Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson reacted [1] sharply during a press briefing this week after a reporter used the term “illegal alien” while asking a question about the city’s ongoing migrant crisis.
Johnson interrupted the reporter and rejected the terminology outright.
“We don’t have illegals. Aliens — I don’t know if that’s from some sort of sci-fi message you wish you’d had. The legal term for my people was slaves — you want me to use that term too?” Johnson said.
“Let’s get the language right. We’re talking about undocumented individuals who are human beings. The last thing I’m going to do is accept racist, nasty language to describe human beings.”
Chicago has at least 200,000 illegal aliens.
The legal term is illegals alien not undocumented, Mayor Johnson should now that as he’s the Mayor of the 3rd largest city in the nation & is arguing with a reporter about it.
Of course he brings up slavery, it wouldn’t be a press… pic.twitter.com/64KcKwJgxJ [2]
— Libs Of Chicago (@Libs_OfChicago) October 25, 2025 [3]
Chicago remains a sanctuary city, meaning local authorities do not assist federal immigration enforcement agencies in deporting individuals who entered the country illegally unless those individuals are wanted on a criminal warrant, have been convicted of a serious crime, or are deemed a threat to public safety or national security.
The confrontation drew attention as Chicago continues to face rising crime and a growing influx of migrants.
Conservative commentator and Townhall radio host Guy Benson reacted to Johnson’s comments on social media, writing, “He’s a moron.”
He’s a moron https://t.co/9qcnvzLANo [4]
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) October 25, 2025 [5]
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker also appeared on Fox News this week, where he declined to acknowledge Chicago’s escalating violent crime crisis.
When asked about recent spikes in homicides and carjackings, Pritzker avoided directly addressing the issue, instead pointing to state funding initiatives for social programs and law enforcement training.
Baier: “Why does Chicago have the highest murder rate of all the big cities?”
Pritzker: “We’re not in the top 30.”
Baier: *shows him a map showing Chicago is number one*
Pritzker: “Look, you can pull statistics up but our murder rate has been cut in half.” pic.twitter.com/1Sg2JbyeIR [6]
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) October 23, 2025 [7]
Meanwhile, former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, criticized the state’s leadership for what he described as an ongoing failure to address violence in Chicago.
4000 people have been murdered in Chicago since JB Pritzker became Governor. 95% are black & Latino. Still, he obstructs efforts by law enforcement to fight crime & save lives, calling agents thugs & calling ICE the gestapo.
— Rod Blagojevich (@realBlagojevich) October 24, 2025 [8]
Blagojevich, who was convicted of corruption for attempting to sell the U.S. Senate seat once held by Barack Obama, was pardoned by President Donald Trump in 2020 after serving eight years in federal prison.
President Trump has previously ordered federal intervention in Chicago to help reduce violent crime.
During his presidency, he deployed federal law enforcement resources not only to Chicago but also to Washington, D.C., and Portland, Oregon, in response to ongoing violence and unrest in major U.S. cities.
Johnson’s comments come amid growing frustration among residents over Chicago’s handling of immigration and public safety.
Since 2023, tens of thousands of illegal aliens have been transported to Chicago from southern border states as part of relocation efforts led by state officials in Texas and Arizona.
The city has struggled to house the influx, with temporary shelters filling public schools, park facilities, and vacant buildings.
Earlier this month, Townhall reported that federal agents arrested an illegal immigrant accused of placing a $10,000 bounty on the head of a federal officer.
The arrest has intensified concerns about violent criminal activity connected to individuals residing in the country unlawfully.
Johnson, who has defended Chicago’s sanctuary city policies since taking office, has faced criticism from both local residents and state leaders over his administration’s response to the migrant crisis and persistent violent crime.
His exchange with the reporter has added to ongoing debate over how city officials are addressing immigration enforcement and public safety challenges as Chicago continues to face financial strain and overcrowded city shelters.