Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., speak at a press conference on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. Johnson erupted at a reporter after they used the term "illegal aliens," slamming the phrase as "racist" and "nasty." (@chicagosmayor via Instagram)
Johnson added that he would not "accept that type of racist, nasty language to describe human beings."
The blue city's mayor then shifted to discuss his administration's spending priorities, touting his $16.7 billion budget that he said invests in education, transportation, housing, environmental justice, youth employment and community safety.
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"And we are going to challenge the ultra-wealthy to pay their fair share," Johnson said.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., then chimed in to back Johnson's remarks, arguing that immigration violations are not criminal offenses.
President Donald Trump speaks to members of the press on October 19, 2025, aboard Air Force One. Earlier this month, the White House escalated its feud with Illinois Democratic leaders, releasing a video attacking Johnson and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
"Jails and incarceration and law enforcement is a sickness that has not led to safe communities," Johnson said at the time.
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Last week, three illegal immigrants and six U.S. citizens were arrested in the Chicago area in what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) dubbed "one of the most violent days" of Operation Midway Blitz.
Operation Midway Blitz was launched last month in honor of Katie Abraham, who was killed in a drunk driving hit-and-run allegedly caused by Julio Cucul-Bol, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala.
DHS stated the goal of the operation was to "target criminal illegal aliens terrorizing Americans in sanctuary Illinois."
The Chicago mayor's office and Rep. 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.
Sophia Compton is a Writer at Fox News Digital. Sophia was previously a business reporter covering finance, energy and tourism and has experience as a TV news producer. She graduated with a journalism degree in 2021 from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/chicago-mayor-lashes-out-reporter-over-illegal-alien-term-racist-nasty-language