Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and a migrant. (Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post.)
Despite this, Johnston has doubled down on the city’s sanctuary policies and has vowed to direct law enforcement to resist Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
During the hearing, Jordan showed a picture of the notice slip given by the Denver Sheriff’s Department to ICE in which the location of release listed was simply the "streets."
Addressing Johnston, Jordan said, "Three hundred and forty-five days you had him in custody, and ICE said, ‘Hey can you give us 48 hours heads up?' You gave them one-hour notice."
Johnston asserted that the Denver sanctuary policy does not shield people from law enforcement but rather "provides services." He said there were six ICE agents present when Gonzalez was released but admitted that the illegal immigrant was allowed to walk freely out into a parking lot.
CHICAGO ALDERMAN SAYS MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON CAN'T DEFEND SANCTUARY CITY POLICIES
U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan holds a news conference at the U.S. Capitol. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Johnston said he was open to making "adjustments" to how releases are conducted but insisted this was the first instance of an ICE agent being assaulted during an arrest in his city.
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"It’s a simple question," Jordan shot back. "You can release him in the parking lot, give ICE one hour notice and they got to send six officers to arrest this guy, or you can say, ‘Here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to hold him. You come in and bring two officers in and turn him in.’ Why not do it that way? You know why you don’t do that way? Because you’re a sanctuary city. This is the whole point."
Peter Pinedo is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sanctuary-city-mayor-confronted-allowing-gang-member-assault-federal-officers