Brandon Gill grills Democratic witness defending Baltimore as safe city – Washington Examiner
In a recent House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on immigration, rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) vocally challenged the effectiveness of sanctuary city policies during a tense exchange with witness Neill Franklin, a retired major from Maryland State Police. The hearing, titled “Sanctuary Jurisdictions: Magnet for Migrants, Cover for Criminals,” addressed how policies in Democrat-led jurisdictions limit cooperation with federal immigration officials, which critics argue jeopardizes public safety.
Gill, advocating for stricter border enforcement, confronted franklin on Baltimore’s safety, questioning his claim that it remains a “safe city” despite crime statistics showing a homicide rate significantly above the national average. Attempting to press Franklin for specific data, Gill highlighted the large proportion of illegal immigrants residing in sanctuary cities and the challenges these policies pose for law enforcement.
the exchange became increasingly heated, with Gill emphasizing the moral and safety implications of releasing undocumented immigrants with pending legal detainers. Franklin defended legal compliance and stated that he felt safe in Baltimore due to his personal experiences, but Gill countered by questioning the reality of safety in a city plagued by violence. The discussion underscored the ongoing debate over immigration policies and their perceived impacts on community security.
Brandon Gill grills Democratic witness defending Baltimore as safe city
During a heated House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement hearing, Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) challenged the credibility of sanctuary city policies and their defenders.
The hearing, titled “Sanctuary Jurisdictions: Magnet for Migrants, Cover for Criminals,” focused on how Democrat-led jurisdictions limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities — a practice Republicans argue undermines law enforcement and public safety.
One of the hearing’s most contentious moments came when Gill questioned witness Neill Franklin, a retired major from both the Maryland State Police and the Baltimore Police Department, who offered a defense of sanctuary policies and Baltimore’s safety record.
The freshman congressman began by affirming his support for stricter border enforcement under President Donald Trump.
“Would you describe Baltimore as a safe city?”
Dem sanctuary city advocate: “Definitely, yes… it’s perception.”
The murder rate in Baltimore is about 5x the national average.
That’s not a safe city. pic.twitter.com/mOOUL8YIXh
— Congressman Brandon Gill (@RepBrandonGill) April 9, 2025
Turning to Franklin, he immediately pressed for data: “Do you know what percentage of illegal aliens reside in sanctuary cities?”
Franklin replied he did not, prompting Gill to state the figure, roughly 56%.
From there, Gill moved quickly through a rapid-fire series of pointed questions: Should law enforcement be obligated to cooperate with immigration detainers? Should illegal immigrants be entitled to taxpayer-funded services like medical care, education, and housing?
Franklin responded hesitantly, deferring repeatedly to context or claiming the issues were outside his expertise.
At the heart of the exchange was Franklin’s insistence that Baltimore remains a “safe” city — a claim Gill forcefully challenged with hard crime statistics.
Gill pointed out that Baltimore’s homicide rate is approximately 35 per 100,000, about five times the national average, while its robbery rate is 8.4 times higher and its assault rate is 3.4 times above the national average.
“You think Baltimore is a safe city?” Gill asked.
“Of course it is,” Franklin responded, citing his lifelong residency in the city and his mother still living there.
“Does that sound like a safe city to you?” Gill pressed, to which Franklin answered, “Safe to me and my family members.”
Gill rebutted: “If you’re murdered, I don’t think it matters what you feel. Do you?”
Gill concluded by questioning the wisdom of releasing illegal immigrants who have detainers against them, even when courts mandate release. Franklin defended adherence to legal procedures, but Gill doubled down on what he views as the moral and public safety consequences.
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“To me, Baltimore City is a safe city,” Franklin insisted.
“I don’t think it’s safe to the people who are being murdered every single weekend there,” Gill shot back.
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