Anna Paulina Luna is referring sanctuary city mayors for criminal prosecution

Republican congresswoman Rep. Anna Paulina Luna from Florida has taken a bold stance against Democratic sanctuary city mayors who testified before Congress on Wednesday. Luna has announced that she is referring these mayors to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution, citing violations of federal law.

During a House Oversight Committee hearing on sanctuary cities, mayors from cities such as Denver, New York City, Chicago, and Boston defended their sanctuary policies, calling for immigration reform and portraying their communities as welcoming. However, Luna argued that these policies were in violation of Title 8, U.S. Code § 1324, which makes it illegal to bring in and harbor unauthorized aliens, as well as prohibiting the unlawful employment of aliens.

In a statement, Luna expressed her concern that open borders ideologies hurt both citizens and migrants and emphasized that federal officials breaking the law will be subject to criminal investigation by the DOJ. Holding up copies of the referrals, Luna announced that she would be sending them to Attorney General Pam Bondi for further action.

While a congressional criminal referral does not guarantee prosecution, Luna’s move sends a strong message to the sanctuary city mayors. Republicans at the hearing criticized the mayors for endangering Americans with their policies, while the mayors defended their stance by highlighting the importance of creating safe and inclusive cities where residents feel comfortable reporting crimes.

Luna, who is also leading the House Oversight Committee’s Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, has been actively pushing for the release of classified records related to high-profile cases such as the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as well as documents related to sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Illegal immigration has been a key issue for many Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, who has vowed to crack down on unauthorized immigrants. Luna’s referral of the sanctuary city mayors to the DOJ signals a strong stance against those who she believes are breaking federal law.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. For more news and updates, you can follow Michael Dorgan on Twitter @M_Dorgan or reach out to him via email at michael.dorgan@fox.com.