Johnson testified alongside Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and New York City Mayor Eric Adams. All four are Democrats, but the Justice Department moved to dismiss Adams’ corruption case in an apparent exchange for his help with Trump’s efforts to conduct the largest mass deportation of undocumented immigrants in U.S. history.

Johnson had a gameplan of what he wanted to stress to congressional Republicans in his testimony. In fact, he made his point at least 18 times.

Mayor Brandon Johnson is in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, where he will defend Chicago’s sanctuary city status during a hearing before the House Oversight Committee focused on immigration policies.