CHICAGO The City of Chicago is being investigated for its “sanctuary city” status, as immigration officers continue to make arrests in the city and around the U.S.

On Monday, Mayor Brandon Johnson received a letter from Washington, D.C., that states, in summary, that Chicago and other cities like it notably Denver, New York and Boston, all of which hold sanctuary city status like Chicago are being investigated by the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

The letter refers to sanctuary jurisdictions as having “misguided and obstructionist policies,” which hinder the abilities of federal law enforcement officers to enforce immigration policies. Because of that, the committee wants a plethora of documents and information relating to “sanctuary city” polices including things like all communications among or between any city official, employee or contractor.

In the letter, Johnson is also invited to testify in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Feb. 11.

Johnson and CPD Supt. Larry Snelling are scheduled to take questions from reporters at 10 a.m. Tuesday. The mayor has not yet commented directly on the letter or whether he’ll go to Washington D.C., to testify, but he did speak during a Lunar New Year event on Monday.

“We will face it with wisdom and unity, and that has made the City of Chicago what it is today,” Johnson said.

Raids across Chicago, U.S.

All of this comes after immigration raids have happened across Chicago and around the U.S. over the last several days.

Earlier Monday, affiliate WGN’s sister station in Washington, D.C., caught up with Tom Homan, the “border czar” for the Donald Trump administration, who was in Chicago on Sunday. Homan was asked what he had to say about how things are being handled.

“We’ve been very successful. In one weekend, numbers are extraordinary. Borders are more secure. It’s been a very long time,” Homan said. “We’re going to enforce immigration law. We’re going to make this country safe again.”

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said its agents made 956 arrests on Sunday and 1,179 arrests on Monday across the U.S., but the agency has not provided numbers specific to Chicago.

The White House reported a separate number on Monday, saying 613 of those arrests were “criminal illegal alien arrests.” It’s unclear if that means 613 of the people arrested had criminal records or if they’d entered the country illegally, or both.

On Monday, Homan said as he has on numerous other occasions that the primary targets are criminals. But he has also previously added that there will be what he calls “collateral arrests,” referring to anyone who is undocumented.

Rights for Chicagoans

The flurry of activity and sightings of federal agents in Chicago has sparked fear for many and left some wondering about their own rights should anyone come to their door or pull them over in their vehicle.

Mary Meg McCarthy, executive director of the National Immigrant Justice Center, said everyone is protected by the Fourth Amendment, regardless of status, adding that no one can come into your home without a signed judicial warrant and that you should check that the warrant is signed by a judge.

“If an officer comes to their door, they do not need to answer that door or open that door, unless they have a judicial warrant, but they have to see that judicial warrant and make sure it is signed by a judge,” McCarthy said. “They should have the officer slip that piece of paper under the door or show it to them in the window, and if that is not signed by a judge, then they do not have to let those individuals in.”

The Justice Center advises that if you’re pulled over in your vehicle, you have the right to remain silent. You can also ask if you’re being arrested, and if you’re not, you can ask to move on.

If there is a possibility of arrest, you can ask for an attorney.

The Chicago Police Department has no hand in federal immigration operations, due to the “Welcoming City Ordinance,” which is what’s now being investigated by a federal committee.

Anyone looking for more assistance can contact or visit the National Immigrant Justice Center, which is also working in conjunction with the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights and has set up a hotline for immigrants looking for assistance. That hotline can be reached at 1-855-HELP-MY-FAMILY.