Chicago has long been a focal point in the national debate over immigration, with Mayor Brandon Johnson, a progressive Democrat elected in 2023, often at the center of controversy. Johnson has repeatedly defended migrants arriving in the city, dismissing criticisms that frame them as a burden on local communities, particularly Black Americans. In recent months, his remarks have sparked backlash from some residents who feel overlooked, culminating in viral social media clips highlighting grassroots sentiments against protests targeting ICE agents.
Johnson’s stance emphasizes the humanity of migrants, whom he refers to as “undocumented individuals” rather than using terms like “illegal aliens,” which he has called “racist” and “nasty language.” During a October 2025 press conference, he rebuked a reporter for using such phrasing, drawing parallels to historical dehumanization of Black people during slavery: “The legal term for my people were slaves. You want me to use that term, too?” He has argued that anti-immigrant rhetoric erases the contributions of newcomers and exacerbates racial divisions, insisting that Chicago’s challenges stem from systemic issues rather than the influx of over 51,000 migrants since 2022.
Critics, however, accuse Johnson of prioritizing migrants over Black Chicagoans. For instance, his administration has allocated hundreds of millions in city and state funds for migrant housing, healthcare, and education—estimates suggest Chicago Public Schools alone spent between $215 million and $410 million on migrant students. Black activists have slammed these policies as “replacing” local residents, with one group demanding property tax exemptions amid perceived favoritism. Johnson has countered by attributing opposition to racism, but detractors like former mayoral candidate Paul Vallas argue his approach constitutes a “war against Chicago’s Black community” through diverted resources and unaddressed needs like mental health and reentry programs.
Amid this divide, a viral video from February 2026 captured a Black Chicago resident explaining the lack of protests against ICE operations in the city. The woman, who worked security at an aid office, described how Black residents grew enraged seeing Venezuelan migrants receive expedited assistance—up to $3,000–$4,000 in benefits like LINK cards and cash—while tax-paying citizens begged for minimal aid like $100 monthly. “Y’all know Black people talk sh*t,” she said, noting separate lines for migrants that fueled resentment. “Everybody knew what the Venezuelans had going on, and everyone was getting enraged by it.” This sentiment echoed in another clip where a man observed ICE agents making an arrest without interference: “Nobody blew whistles, nobody boxed them in… You ever notice how they leave you alone if you leave them alone?”
These incidents underscore a broader rift in Chicago, where Johnson’s pro-migrant policies—such as executive orders limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and creating “ICE-Free Zones”—have won praise from immigrant advocates but alienated some Black voters. As deportations ramp up under national directives, the city’s Black community appears increasingly unwilling to rally against ICE, viewing migrants’ privileges as a direct slight. Johnson continues to call for unity, but without addressing these grievances, tensions may only escalate.
SOURCES:
Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson erupts at reporter over ‘illegal aliens’ term | Fox News
Why Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson fumed at ‘illegal aliens’ question
Vallas: Brandon Johnson’s war against Chicago’s Black community
LIVE: Black Chicagoans Slam Mayor Johnson For ‘Replacing’ Them With Migrants | U.S News LIVE | N18L – YouTube
Why Chicago’s Brandon Johnson fumed at ‘illegal alien’ question – America’s Black Holocaust Museum
Mayor Johnson Signs Executive Order Designed to Lay ‘Groundwork’ to Prosecute Federal Agents for Actions During Immigration Raids | Chicago News | WTTW
