CHICAGO (WLS) — Mayor Brandon Johnson was in the hot seat in Washington D.C. Wednesday, where he testified before a Republican-led congressional committee on Chicago’s sanctuary city policies.

The House Oversight Committee hearing got underway Wednesday morning, with the hearing at times getting tense.

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Mayor Johnson and the mayors of Boston, New York City and Denver were called to testify and defend those laws, and they had a chance to give opening statements regarding their stance on sanctuary city policies.

One of the strategic goals of the Mayor Johnson’s team that prepped him for the hearing was “do no harm.” Consultants say he achieved that.

Johnson is the first Chicago mayor since Richard M. Daley to testify before Congress. He prepared for several days and sought the advice of former Chicago mayors.

One of the strategic goals of the Mayor Brandon Johnson’s team that prepped him for the congressional hearing was “do no harm.”

“The advice I would have given him going in was certainly to stay focused, not to go off message, to stay on message, not to be baited,” political consultant Delmarie Cobb said.

Republicans did their best to bait Johnson, especially on topics that had nothing to do with the purpose of the hearing, including asking him about a room full of gifts the mayor’s office received.

Despite a testy exchange between Johnson and Texas Congressman Brandon Gill, political consultant Cobb and other Democrats said the mayor held his own during a several hour hearing that invited big city mayors to answer questions about their welcome city ordinances.

“He was reserved, he was steady, he was very fully practiced,” political consultant Aviva Bowen said. “I don’t think there was ever going to be a win here today. I think he had to avoid losing big on a national stage.”

The mayor avoided any significant confrontations or embarrassing moments, but the partisan nature of the hearing was evident on both sides of the political aisle.

“The mayors here today each lead so called sanctuary cities, and let’s be clear, these policies only create sanctuary for criminals,” said James Comer, (R) KY, Committee Chairman.

Mayor Johnson went on the offensive against Republicans in his opening statement, addressing crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.

“Sensationalizing tragedy in the name of political expediency is not governing, it’s grandstanding every violent crime is devastating, but scapegoating entire communities is not only misleading, it is unjust and it is beneath us,” Johnson said.

Rep. LaHood and Brandon Johnson had a tense first meeting amid the sanctuary city hearing in D.C.

“Our policies toward civil immigration matters help to prevent and solve crimes,” Johnson said. “Put simply, any actions that amplify fears of deportations make Chicago more dangerous. Those fears cause witnesses and victims to avoid cooperation with police.”

The hearing at times devolved into committee members and mayors talking over one another. Johnson took heat when he would not put a dollar amount on money spent on helping migrants sent to Chicago from southern states.

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“It’s 1% and if you want the actual number we can make sure someone,” Johnson said.’You’re the mayor, you don’t have the math in front of you,” said Byron Donalds, (R) Florida.”It’s 1% of the overall budget over the last immigration,” Johnson said.

“Mayor Johnson, I already asked you… if you don’t have a hard number, if you don’t have a hard number, you’re not running your city,” Donalds said.

Sanctuary laws have been under the microscope as many of these cities have seen an influx of migrants.

The laws limit local police from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on immigration matters.

Illinois Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi spoke during a D.C. hearing on sanctuary cities on Wednesday.

Critics of sanctuary policies believe that they are a threat to public safety.

Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks at a congressional committee on Chicago’s sanctuary city policy.

Mayor Johnson had a back and forth with Chairman Comer.

Comer: “Will you turn that criminal over to ICE?”Johnson: “We do not harbor criminals. Our local police department works hard every single day to ensure that the City of Chicago…”Comer: “Yes or no, will you turn the criminal over to ICE?”Johnson: “With a criminal warrant from the federal government, our local law enforcement repeatedly collaborates with federal agencies.”Comer: “So, you will turn that criminal over to ICE?”Johnson: “With a criminal warrant, as we have done for…”Comer: “Should that criminal be turned over to ICE?”

Johnson: “With a criminal warrant, they are subject to the federal laws and that includes deportation.”

The hearing lasted most of the day.

Mayor Brandon Johnson defended Chicago’s stand and said the city does ‘not harbor criminals.’

The Trump administration has threatened to cut federal funding from states and cities that support sanctuary polices.

Mayor Brandon Johnson and the mayors of Boston, NYC, Denver had a chance give opening statements regarding their stance on sanctuary city policies.

Among those sitting in the gallery Wednesday was Chicago Police FOP President John Catanzara.

“I thought it was important to be here to push back and let Brandon know that his nonsense and his lies were not going to be go unchallenged,” Catanzara said.

The lone Illinois representative on the committee helping Johnson defend Chicago’s welcoming city ordinance, which prevents local law enforcement from cooperating on federal civil immigration matters, was Democrat Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi.

“So just to clear it up, anytime that ICE does the work and goes to a court to get a criminal warrant to arrest somebody the city of Chicago not only is required to, but does cooperate to remove that criminal from our community. Right?” Krishnamoorthi said.

“That is correct,” Johnson said.

This hearing in many ways was less about getting answers and more about giving representatives a platform to pontificate about their positions on the issues.

Mayor Johnson and his counterparts from Boston, Denver and New York made it clear they would not be bullied into changing their sanctuary policies.

Mayor Johnson spoke after his congressional hearing Wednesday.

Before he left Washington, Johnson was asked how he judged his own performance and how he prepared.

“I will say this, being a middle school teacher in Chicago Public Schools certainly prepares you for this committee,” Johnson said.

Democrats say Johnson and the other mayors had to be measured because federal funding hangs in the balance. Democrats say Republicans were trying to use the hearing to embarrass Johnson. Many GOP members said Johnson and the mayors from New York, Denver and Boston should be prosecuted over their sanctuary city policies.