Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson ordered police to clear protesting residents from a City Council meeting on his 2025 budget after residents angrily opposed funding for migrants. The budget passed narrowly following a recess to clear the hall, after six weeks of debate that eliminated a proposed $300 million property tax but included a criticized $40 million short-term loan.
Residents accused Johnson of prioritizing “illegal immigrants” over Chicagoans, causing debt and ignoring local needs. Criticisms also targeted excessive staff salaries. Incoming border czar Tom Homan warned Chicago would face early deportations and threatened prosecution if the mayor harbors illegal aliens. The event highlights deep frustration with sanctuary policies amid fiscal strain
Upset, one citizen stated, “You caused all this money to go to illegal immigrants. Anything that you all passed, it’s not genuine. You have not protected the people of Chicago from invasion,” expressing widespread anger with the Chicago mayor.
Additionaly, local journalist William Kelly joined a broadcast to explain the situation. “William, you were inside that budget vote. How embarrassing was this for Mayor Brandon Johnson, even with the budget ultimately passing?” a journalist asked.
“Todd, you know, as a lifelong Chicagoan, I love Chicago with all my heart. I’m not a Chicago basher, and I love those people. It brings tears to my eyes. Todd, who came to Chicago City Hall week after week, it took four times for this budget to finally pass $17 billion. These real Chicagoans made their voices heard,” he answered.
“They made it clear they don’t trust Brandon Johnson, Mayor Johnson, with 50 cents. Okay, they know he’s just going to spend that money on migrants and violent teenagers. Brandon Johnson says it himself,” Kelly explained.
The reporter noted, “You mentioned the migrants. Brandon Johnson… under his leadership, Chicago has spent $ 527 million in taxpayer dollars on migrants. So my question for you, William, would Mayor Johnson have had an easier time passing a budget if, oh, I don’t know, he didn’t spend so much money on illegal migrants?”
"*" indicates required fields
Kelly reported, “Well, that was almost to the penny, the amount that Mayor Johnson wanted to raise property taxes on the real people of Chicago. Thankfully, I had the opportunity to call it out as a migrant tax, which motivated people to come to Chicago City, call Hall, and literally shout at the mayor.”
Building on this point, he added, “But yet, Mayor Johnson still got the votes from his friends and allies in the Chicago City Council. The vice mayor. Here’s an example of where we’re at in Chicago right now. The Vice Mayor, a guy named Alderman Burnette, was convicted of bank robbery.”
Watch the clip here:
Additionaly, he stated, “He spent time in jail. He’s a Chicago City alderman. He’s getting paid in addition to his automatic salary for almost half a mill, okay to be vice mayor, which essentially has absolutely no duties or responsibilities other than waiting to possibly become mayor if something were to happen to Mayor Johnson. So in Chicago, if you really, really, really want to rip off the people of Chicago, don’t rob a bank. Become an alderman.”
Featured image from embedded video