Lake County Gazette

Jay Swidler, chairman of the Vernon Township Republicans, said that the March 5 hearing before the U.S. House Oversight Committee revealed how Brandon Johnson and other Democratic mayors cannot justify sanctuary city policies. Swidler made this statement to the Lake County Gazette on March 10.

"The March 5 hearing made it painfully clear that Brandon Johnson and other Democratic mayors have no justification for their dangerous sanctuary city policies, which put American lives at risk," said Swidler. "Instead of addressing the rising crime linked to illegal immigration, they dodged accountability and hid behind weak excuses. House Republicans exposed the devastating consequences of these policies, yet Democrats refused to acknowledge the harm they are causing. Sanctuary cities are a disaster for public safety, and their leaders' stubborn refusal to change course is nothing short of a betrayal of the citizens they are supposed to protect."

According to Politico, on March 5, Democratic mayors testified in Washington regarding their immigration policies, addressing Republican concerns about crime in sanctuary cities. House Republicans cited violent incidents involving undocumented immigrants to argue for increased local cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The mayors maintained that no law mandates such coordination. Oversight Chair James Comer criticized sanctuary policies, describing them as a "public safety nightmare." Democrats responded with defensive arguments as immigration remains a significant point of debate for both parties ahead of upcoming elections.

In a press release on February 5 to the House Oversight Committee website, Chairman Comer said: "Sanctuary mayors owe the American people an explanation for city policies that jeopardize public safety and violate federal immigration law by releasing dangerous criminal illegal aliens back onto the streets…. Policies in Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City prioritize criminal illegal aliens over the American people. This is unacceptable and their leaders must be held accountable. We will press these mayors for answers and examine measures to enforce compliance with federal immigration law."

Fox 32 reported on February 5 that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson would testify before Congress regarding the city’s sanctuary policies. The House Oversight Committee invited Johnson due to concerns that such policies allegedly violate federal law and harm residents. Chicago, along with New York, Boston, and Denver, has faced scrutiny for allegedly protecting undocumented immigrants. Johnson defended the city’s sanctuary policies in his testimony.

Swidler, a resident of Buffalo Grove, was first elected as Chairman of the Vernon Township Republicans in 2024. According to the organization’s website, he is "focused on boosting Republican voter turnout, growing the Party’s membership, and communicating the Party’s positions on issues that matter to Vernon Township voters."