Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley (D) defended his city's sanctuary status, saying the national government "cannot federalize local police" while clarifying his administration will not obstruct immigration enforcement operations.

His comments come after four Democratic mayors from sanctuary cities across the U.S. testified on Capitol Hill and defended their cities’ status in a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing Wednesday.

"We believe there's a distinction between the federal government and local government with regard to policing," Keeley said Wednesday on “The Hill on NewsNation.”

Boston’s Michelle Wu, Chicago’s Brandon Johnson, Denver’s Mike Johnston........

© The Hill