Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, whose administration just hired a law firm to help him prepare for an upcoming congressional inquiry into “sanctuary” cities, hinted he will insist that Denver’s approach to illegal immigration “works” when he testifies in the nation’s capital next month. 

“We think the data is quite clear that (our) approach works,” he told City Cast Denver during a podcast released Wednesday. “One of the things we see is the fact that we have engaged people in services, supported them, meaning we’ve built trust there, which is why we haven’t seen huge spikes in crime.”

Since 2023, some 43,000 immigrants — who illegally crossed the southern border with Mexico — have arrived in Denver. Early in the humanitarian crisis, Denver officials decided to assume the responsibility for the response, which has cost city taxpayers more than $80 million.

Originally, local officials believed Denver’s draw was its proximity to Mexico and its status as a “sanctuary city.” But Texas officials in El Paso believed that the city’s offer of shelter and onward travel — while well intended — actually made Denver a magnet for immigrants.

Johnston is set to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Government and Reform on March 5.

Among those who will likely question Johnston is U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert. The mayor and congresswoman have sparred with on social media in the past. The two went back and forth last May after Denver released its “newcomer playbook,” the Johnston administration’s advice on how other cities can tackle their own illegal immigration crisis.

Johnston claimed that immigrants tend to trust the Denver Police Department because they know they are not at risk of being deported or arrested if they’re a victim or witness to a crime. A state law prohibits local cooperation with immigration agents in specific instances. 

A Jan. 27 letter from Rep. James Comer, the committee chairman, called Johnston out by name.

“Denver is a sanctuary jurisdiction under Colorado law, and Mayor Mike Johnston confirmed that he was prepared to go to jail to protect illegal aliens from federal immigration authorities,” Comer said. 

When asked if he’d change anything about his response to the illegal immigration crisis, Johnston answered “no,” arguing Denver did its best given the situation.

“(There’s a reason) we don’t have large encampments of migrants anymore. That’s why we have 7,000 people who are work-authorized and on the job today,” he said. “And that’s why we’ve been able to cut the amount of money the city will spend on migrants by 90% this year.”

Denver inked an agreement with the law firm Covington and Burling, LLP to represent the city in the upcoming congressional inquiry. Under the one-year contract with Covington and Burling, which has a maximum cap of $2 million, the city will pay lawyers at a “discounted” rate of $1,000 per hour.