Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson declared that there are no “illegal aliens” in Chicago and that using the term is “racist.” Speaking to reporters about his administration’s handling of migrants, the Democrat mayor said that calling anyone an “illegal alien” is equivalent to calling Black Americans “slaves.”
“We don’t have illegal aliens,” Johnson said. “I don’t know if that’s from some sort of sci-fi message that you wish you’ve had.”
Johnson’s remarks came during an exchange with a reporter who asked why his office had not yet provided the federal government with an accounting of how much Chicago has spent on illegal immigrants. Instead of answering directly, Johnson accused critics of using “racist” language to describe migrants.
“Listen,” he said, “the legal term for my people were slaves. You want me to use that term, too?”
The mayor went on to scold the press for what he described as “dehumanizing” rhetoric.
“Let’s just get the language right,” he said. “We’re talking about undocumented individuals that are human beings. The last thing that I’m going to do is accept that type of racist, nasty language to describe human beings.”
Johnson later posted a clip of his exchange to his Instagram account, captioning it, “This isn’t a sci-fi show. These are human beings. We will not abandon our humanity to score cheap political points.”
The Irony of the Comparison
Johnson’s remarks also carry deep irony at a time when many black Chicagoans — the very demographic he invoked — are increasingly turning against the city’s progressive leadership over its handling of illegal immigration. In recent months, black residents have protested the relocation of migrant shelters into majority-black neighborhoods, arguing that resources are being diverted from their own struggling communities.
Statistically, illegal immigration disproportionately hurts black workers, who already face some of the highest unemployment rates in the city. Labor competition from illegal immigrants in service-sector jobs has made it harder for low-income black residents to find and keep stable employment — a fact that makes Johnson’s slavery comparison all the more tone-deaf to many.
A Longtime Foe of ICE
Johnson has long been one of the nation’s most outspoken critics of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Since taking office, he has refused to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement and previously suggested that ICE agents operating in Chicago should be arrested. The mayor has also accused President Donald Trump of “declaring war” on Chicago over his deportation efforts.
Johnson’s critics, including some within his own party, argue that his rhetoric has done little to address mounting tensions in Chicago neighborhoods struggling to absorb the influx of migrants. City shelters have been overwhelmed, police resources stretched thin, and residents in some districts have protested what they see as the city’s prioritization of migrants over longtime citizens.
Race, Rhetoric, and Responsibility
Johnson frequently links immigration enforcement to anti-black racism, framing both as expressions of systemic oppression. Earlier this month, after Trump said that Johnson and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker should be “in jail” for failing to protect their citizens, the mayor responded, “This is not the first time Trump has tried to have a Black man unjustly arrested,” Johnson said, implying that the president’s criticism was racially motivated rather than policy-based.
Opponents, however, say Johnson’s reflexive use of racial language has become a way to deflect accountability.
Despite the controversy, Johnson has shown no signs of backing down. His insists that Chicago is and will remain a city of compassion and humanity, but for many Chicagoans, the question is to whom that “compassion” and “humanity” are directed. When the mayor grandstands for lawbreakers but ignores the mounting cries of lifelong citizens, it seems that his so-called compassion may be conditional.
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Might want to check US Code about certain peoples conduct. Here it even covers where if someone breaks this law and it results in the serious bodily harm or death of a person. Can go to jail from 20 years to life. Sounds fairly familiar.
8 U.S. Code § 1324 – Bringing in and harboring certain aliens
(a)Criminal penalties
(1)
(A)Any person who—
(i)knowing that a person is an alien, brings to or attempts to bring to the United States in any manner whatsoever such person at a place other than a designated port of entry or place other than as designated by the Commissioner, regardless of whether such alien has received prior official authorization to come to, enter, or reside in the United States and regardless of any future official action which may be taken with respect to such alien;
(ii)knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law, transports, or moves or attempts to transport or move such alien within the United States by means of transportation or otherwise, in furtherance of such violation of law;
(iii)knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law, conceals, harbors, or shields from detection, or attempts to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection, such alien in any place, including any building or any means of transportation;
(iv)encourages or induces an alien to come to, enter, or reside in the United States, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such coming to, entry, or residence is or will be in violation of law; or
(v)
(I)engages in any conspiracy to commit any of the preceding acts, or
(II)aids or abets the commission of any of the preceding acts,
shall be punished as provided in subparagraph (B).
(B)A person who violates subparagraph (A) shall, for each alien in respect to whom such a violation occurs—
(i)in the case of a violation of subparagraph (A)(i) or (v)(I) or in the case of a violation of subparagraph (A)(ii), (iii), or (iv) in which the offense was done for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain, be fined under title 18, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both;
(ii)in the case of a violation of subparagraph (A)(ii), (iii), (iv), or (v)(II), be fined under title 18, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both;
(iii)in the case of a violation of subparagraph (A)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v) during and in relation to which the person causes serious bodily injury (as defined in section 1365 of title 18) to, or places in jeopardy the life of, any person, be fined under title 18, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both; and
(iv)in the case of a violation of subparagraph (A)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v) resulting in the death of any person, be punished by death or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, fined under title 18, or both.
The mayor is not only ignorant and an idiot but he has lost touch with reality. A slave had no choice from the time he was enslaved by other blacks that won a war in Africa and the losing side was sold off to slave traders who transported them to other locations, were bought and sold like cattle, then the new owners did as they wished with no consideration to the actual slave, made them work at what ever, and again treated them as property until freed by Abraham Linconln (R) in the Imancipation Pro.
An Illegal Alien comes to the nation by not following the law and rules for immigration. They were not invited, not authroized, not encouraged to come to USA. It was their choice. They “Illegally entered the USA, unvetted for their past history which may have been criminal activities, health problems & current deseases, political considerations, or as agents of foreign goverments that would do us harm. It is the duty of ICE to prevent this and assure that those immigrating to the USA do so legally by being vetted correctly. The “Illegal Alien” instantly becomes a burdon on the tax payers and relies on the US Goverment to provide: transportaton, food, houseing, medical care, and money to exist, all while building communities of smiliar or like minded illegal imigrants. There is amoung those who crossed our borders illegally, mostly good people, but criminals who have robbed, raped, killed, infected, and created unamerican activities counter to those of the USA. This could have been prevented with proper vetting.
SO, Mayor Johnson, stop being a racist, stop being a bleeding heart, stop bringing aid and comfort to the apparent enemy. Start acting like a ligitiment Mayor, look at the history of Chicago and look at past Mayors on who were the most successful Mayors of Chicago, who did not blame but governed the Chicago machine. They never allowed the city to become your crime ridden, slum of Chicago which has failiing miserably under your guidance. Major corporatons are leaving the City, crime is increasing, racism, drug actitiy, gangs, graft, corruption is running amuck while you grand stand and point fingers at other people and blame them. YOU are in charge and YOU are the one who blame for failures. Only YOU can change the direction its going and change failures into any kind of success. YOU need to change!
So speaks ChiKILLgo !