During a House Oversight Committee hearing on sanctuary cities on June 25, 2026, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) engaged in a shouting match over immigration enforcement policies. The hearing, titled 'Examining the Impact of Sanctuary City Policies on Public Safety,' featured testimony from law enforcement officials and policy experts.
Lawler accused sanctuary city policies of harboring criminals, citing a case in New York where an undocumented immigrant was charged with a violent crime. Raskin countered that such policies build trust between immigrant communities and police, citing data from the National Institute of Justice showing no significant difference in crime rates between sanctuary and non-sanctuary cities.
The exchange escalated when Lawler interrupted Raskin's questioning of a witness, leading to both lawmakers raising their voices. Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) called for order, reminding members to respect speaking times. The hearing continued with testimony from San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto and Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia, who offered contrasting views on the effectiveness of sanctuary policies.
