Thanks to Republicans, progressive Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is quickly becoming the face of opposition to President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration policy.

And her stature will only be enhanced — at least among Democrats and progressives — if she testifies on the issue before a GOP-controlled House Committee.

The 40-year-old, first-term mayor has been asked to testify on Boston’s so-called “sanctuary city” status before the Republican-led House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which is chaired by Rep. James Comer of Kentucky.

So far, she has demurred and could be subpoenaed if she refuses to appear. “We’ll respond in due time,” Wu said.

This is the policy called The Boston Trust Act that prohibits Boston police officers from cooperating with federal officials seeking to arrest and deport criminal illegal immigrants.

It was last approved in 2019 when Marty Walsh was mayor, and the illegal immigration problem barely existed. Those 50 Venezuelan immigrants that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis flew into Martha’s Vineyard to make a point did not take place until 2022.

Since then, the city and the state has been deluged with immigrants, criminal and otherwise, seeking shelter and welfare. Some have also sought criminal opportunities.

Wu, despite being stung by a recent ICE raid in Boston, which resulted in the arrest of a violent Haitian street gang member and others in her “safe” city, should take Comer up on his offer.

It is obvious that Wu was miffed over Fox News’ Bill Melugin for having imbedded himself with ICE agents in the arrest of that wanted Haitian criminal that made the news across the country. It showed that the federal government is willing to do what the local government won’t do.

No reporter in the country has covered the illegal immigrant border invasion better than Melugin. In fact, there were months and years that the Spanish-speaking Melugin was the only television reporter covering the border.

And Wu wrongly responded by blaming the messenger rather than dealing with the message.

The committee, in its letter to Wu, said that Boston was one of four cities — Chicago, New York and Denver — “that stand out in their abject failure to comply” with federal immigration law. It said, “Boston is a sanctuary jurisdiction that refuses to fully cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.”

Wu responded by saying, “We feel very strongly that we’re on solid legal ground as we’re following the law every day.”

If, as Wu believes, the city need not abide by federal laws, rules and regulations, she should tell the committee, the state and the country about it.

And what better time to do it than on the eve of the July, 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, which was signed following the Revolutionary War against the British, a war that had its beginnings in Boston and spread to Lexington, Concord and the rest of the Thirteen Colonies.

Sounding like Sam Adams, John Hancock, or Dr. Joseph Warren talking about the British Empire back then, Wu on Tuesday said, “The federal government can implement their laws, and we’re not forced to participate in their actions. We have our domain, and we feel strongly that we’re on solid legal ground.”

Substitute “British” for the federal government and you can see where Wu is coming from.

She may be wrong, but it makes for good copy.

This is why if Wu, an Asian American and daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, said as much, and in the same way, before a bullying Chairman Comer and an unsympathetic committee it would have a resounding effect.

The anti-Trump Washington media would go bonkers as they painted her story as a diminutive minority and a new mother standing up to Trump the way the Colonists stood up to the British or even as Joan of Arc stood up to them before that.

It won’t change anything.

But it could put Boston on the map and make Wu, who is running for reelection, a national figure.

Veteran political reporter Peter Lucas can be reached at: peter.lucas@bostonherald.com