Brandon Johnson, the Democratic mayor of Chicago who identifies as “progressive,” stated on Saturday that there are no “illegal aliens” in his city, calling it racist to suggest otherwise.
He further made an unexpected comparison, arguing that if “illegal aliens” exist, then all Black people should be referred to as “slaves.”
“We don’t have illegal aliens,” Johnson asserted firmly. “I’m not sure if that’s some sort of sci-fi narrative.”
His remarks were triggered by a reporter’s inquiry about why his office hadn’t yet provided the federal government with a report detailing expenditures related to undocumented immigrants.
Johnson reiterated his point by linking anti-Black racism with immigration, saying, “Look, the legal term for my people was slavery. Should I use that term too?”
He then took the opportunity to criticize reporters for their language and approach, urging them, “Let’s use the right terms. We’re talking about undocumented individuals. The last thing I’m going to do is use language that is racist and offensive to describe people.”
So passionate was he about this topic that he shared a clip of his comments on Instagram, captioning it: “This isn’t a science fiction show. They are human beings. They won’t surrender their humanity for cheap political gain.”
Johnson has been vocal against former President Trump’s immigration policies, positioning himself as a notable Democratic figure opposed to ICE operations in Chicago.
Recently, Trump claimed that the president had “declared war” on Chicago while merely seeking to deport many immigrants who entered the country unlawfully.
It appears Johnson is so focused on defending undocumented immigrants that he hesitated to clarify whether he supports the deportation of a violent immigrant who assaulted his wife.
He has even suggested that ICE agents should face arrest for simply performing their duties, a notion his police chief quickly opposed.
Johnson frequently intertwines discussions of anti-Black racism with debates on immigration, as if opposing undocumented immigrants for various societal concerns equates to a hatred of Black individuals.
For instance, earlier in October, when Trump suggested that Johnson and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker should be jailed for failing to ensure public safety, Johnson countered, saying, “This isn’t the first time Mr. Trump has attempted to unjustly arrest a Black person,” implying racial motives in Trump’s remarks.
