Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson lashed out at a reporter over the term ‘illegal alien’

Democratic Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson blasted a reporter on Friday after he used the term “”.illegal alien” during a press briefing, using the words “racist” and “bad”.

In a video posted Saturday on the Chicago mayor’s official Instagram account, a reporter asked Johnson about a report on city spending related to “illegal aliens” in Chicago that he was required to file with the White House.

Johnson immediately pushed back on the language.

“We don’t have illegal aliens,” Johnson told a reporter. “I don’t know if that comes from some kind of sci-fi message or if you want to… Well listen, the legal term for my people was slave. Do you want me to use that word too? So look, let’s get the language right. We’re talking. Undocumented Persons They are human.”

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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., on Friday, Oct. 24. Speaking at a press conference on 2025. After Johnson used the term “illegal alien,” the reporter was called “racist” and “despicable.” (@chicagosmayor via Instagram)

Johnson added that he “will not accept that kind of racist, nasty language to describe human beings.”

of the blue city The mayor then went on to discuss his administration’s spending priorities, saying he is investing in education, transportation, housing, environmental justice, youth employment and community safety.

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“And we’re going to challenge the super-rich to give them their fair share,” Johnson said.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash. later supported Johnson’s criticism, arguing that immigration violations are not criminal offenses.

People use their phones to record an argument with federal agents at an intersection in the Cicero neighborhood during an immigration raid, after President Donald Trump ordered an increased federal law enforcement presence to aid in crime prevention, in Chicago, Oct. 22, 2025. (Jim Wondruska/Reuters)

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“It’s very important that people in Illinois And the whole country understands that the immigration system is a civil system,” Jaipal said. “Undocumented presence in the United States is not a criminal offense. And so thanks for the language clarification.”

Johnson has previously been outspoken in defending Chicago’s immigration policies and criticizing the president. Donald TrumpApproaches to crime and border enforcement.

Last month, the mayor of Chicago gave a fiery press conference condemning Trump’s crackdown on crime.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One on October 19, 2025. Earlier this month, the White House escalated its feud with Illinois Democratic leaders and released a video attacking Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

“Jails and incarceration and law enforcement are a disease that has not made safe communities,” Johnson said at the time.

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Last week, three illegal immigrants and six US citizens were arrested in the Chicago area in what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) called “one of the most violent days” of Operation Midway Blitz.

Operation Midway Blitz was launched last month in honor of Katie Abraham, who died in a hit-and-run allegedly driven by drunken driving by Julio Cucul-Bol, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala.

DHS said the operation aimed to “target criminal illegal aliens who terrorize Americans in sanctuary Illinois.”

Chicago Mayor’s Office and Representative Pramila Jayapal did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf and Alexander Hall contributed to this report.