Mayor Johnston agrees to testify before Congress on Denver's sanctuary city policies

State of play: His highly anticipated decision — which he had been weighing for over a week — came the same day multiple federal immigration raids took place in Denver and its neighbor Aurora.

The latest: The U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing is now scheduled March 5 after being originally planned for Feb. 11.

• Johnston will join three other mayors from Democratic sanctuary cities, including Boston, Chicago and New York City.

Catch up quick: The House committee late last month invited the mayors to testify as part of an investigation into whether sanctuary city policies are disrupting federal immigration enforcement.

• In a letter to Johnston on Jan. 27, committee chair Rep. James Comer (R.Ky.) highlighted Johnston's public remarks expressing a willingness to face jail time to oppose deportation efforts the mayor deems illegal.

Context: Denver police officers don't help enforce civil federal immigration laws, following both local and state mandates.

• The city agrees to share release dates for violent offenders who are undocumented and in city custody.

What they're saying: "For the last two years, Denver has shown the country that you can be a compassionate and welcoming city without sacrificing public safety or core services. We look forward to discussing with the Committee," Johnston's spokesperson Jordan Fuja said in a statement Wednesday.