Despite her normally calm demeanor, Mayor Wu has rarely been one to actively seek attention on the national level. It appears that fellow mayors testifying at the same panel may invite more combative exchanges from the committee due to their more assertive replies. For instance, Denver’s Mayor Mike Johnston expressed last year his firm willingness to risk jail time in order to halt what he views as unlawful deportation actions. Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson is expected to answer queries regarding his city’s elevated crime rate.
Making things potentially tense, the Republicans on the committee have already established a confrontational environment for the upcoming Wednesday hearing. The GOP released a promotional video last week, enigmatically likened to a high-profile TV event, featuring suspenseful music, fire sequences, and news snippets highlighting immigrants charged with violent offenses. This was orchestrated under GOP chairman James Comer, a Kentucky Republican and other committee associates who recently talked about immigration policy with Stephen Miller, one of the key figures behind Trump’s strict enforcement tactics.
National Republicans have frequently targeted Boston, specifically on matters related to immigration. Tom Homan, known as the Border czar, has consistently challenged the city, with Mayor Wu and Police Commissioner Michael Cox being his usual targets. Those familiar with congressional hearings caution that they don’t provide a balanced platform. Lawyers experienced with congressional witness preparation warn about the difficulty of leaving such an inquiry unscathed.
These hearings have potential to make or break reputations, but they also work as excellent political ammunition for those posing the questions, rather than those who have to respond to them. Mayor Wu, who welcomed her third child this January, has spent weeks preparing for this important public occasion, according to the city officials. By Wednesday, the Mayor would have finalized around twelve preparatory sessions, where she has practiced with the City Hall staff, external lawyers, and police officers.
Wu, while prepping for the hearing, often took her newborn daughter, Mira, along with her to the meetings and took breaks intermittently for nursing. During her preparation, Mayor Wu also engaged with Haitian leaders in Mattapan, charity and advocate leaders in East Boston, spiritual leaders from across the city, and immigrant locals and entrepreneurs at La Colaborativa, in nearby Chelsea. She compiled narratives she could potentially share with the committee and also received endorsements from community leaders.
Despite the chances of damage, congressional hearings like this one can be seen as an opportunity for public figures. The timing is significant, as it marks the beginning of Wu’s reelection year, presenting a platform for Mayor Wu to underline Boston’s successful approach to public safety and immigrant integration. The city’s record in maintaining safety and reducing crime has caught national interest, as Wu is set to present Boston’s immigration policy before Congress.
Critics of Wu have taken to online platforms to depict Boston as plagued with crime and devoid of law. Contrary to these perceptions, data from the Boston Police Department indicates a drastic reduction in the most serious forms of violent crimes since Wu’s first tenure in office which began in November 2021. This testimony puts Boston under the national spotlight of the GOP once again. The recent Republican resurgence in Washington has not only targeted Boston but also its Mayor directly, highlighting the city’s immigration strategies and making Mayor Michelle Wu the potential figurehead of a liberal opposition, if she accepts.
Mayor Wu has proudly represented Boston as one of the safest major cities across the nation. On being targeted, she responded by saying that they would address the matter in due course. Despite being the center of such national attention, Wu did not confirm her appearance at the committee hearing and conveyed that she has not yet received a formal summons to attend.