Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson responded to Donald Trump’s plans for a stepped-up deportation operation in Chicago on Saturday, delivering a diatribe full of left-wing talking points but little else.
Johnson, a self-described Democrat “progressive”, appeared on Victor Blackwell’s podcast “First of All”, but he refused to answer the question repeatedly, instead spitting out anti-Trump talking points and liberal nonsense.
Blackwell began his podcast by asking the mayor: “Let’s begin here with your reaction to Homan’s statement that he would come after you if he stood in your way.”
The mayor started with “Well, you’re right, it is unfortunate — but first, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year to all the people around the world.” Johnson, trying to avoid answering the question, said: “Trump, the president-elect, as well as the former president of the United States of America, has shown an incredible disregard for people. My responsibility as the Mayor of Chicago is, therefore, to invest in people and to protect them, while also connecting them with the resources they need to create a sustainable economy and a better and stronger Chicago.”
“You know that this president has shown disdain not only towards immigrants but also lovers of public education. He’s determined to abolish the entire department of education.” Johnson continued his anti-Trump talk by saying, “As a former teacher of public schools, as a child of public education, and as someone who sent my children to public school, working people in this country want the public education system to work.”
“He has displayed an incredible animus toward public housing. Public housing has allowed families to find stability and experience their human rights. He showed contempt for vouchers which could make it difficult for families to get affordable housing. The left-wing Chicago mayor congratulated himself for having built 3600 affordable houses in the city since he took office.”
“He has also displayed a lot of malice towards the Department of the Environment. He doesn’t believe in science. Chicago is home to 20% of the freshwater in the world. We can create a sustainable, green economy that will provide real opportunities for the people. He has shown hatred towards immigrants, but not only. He has shown great animus toward working people in Chicago. It is my duty, and my joy, that I protect all residents of my beloved city”, he said.
Blackwell played a video clip from Trump’s border czar Tom Homan. Homan said he wanted Democrat-controlled departments of police to inform Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents of the location of criminal illegals.
In the video Blackwell played, Homan stated that he did not want police officers to become immigration officers. “I just want them to let us know where they are when they arrest a criminal illegal alien. You don’t have to wait any longer. You must hold them to your charges. Just work with us to remove these threats not only from the streets but also from the entire country. “
Blackwell then honed in on his question and asked Johnson: “So, let me, let me ask you if someone in CPD takes custody of someone that fits that scenario, profile, accused for a violent crime committed in the country illegally. Does local law allow you to inform ICE?” And will you?”
Johnson again resorted to left-wing talking points and refused to answer the question.
“Here’s what the local law does. First of all, you know, as a sanctuary city. You know, this ordinance was birthed by the first black mayor in the history of Chicago, Mayor Harry Washington. He understood during the Reagan administration, that as foreign policies disrupted Central and South America, he made it very clear that the city of Chicago would serve as a refuge for people around the globe. And so there’s a strong black liberation presentation that comes out of the city of Chicago as it relates to being a sanctuary city,” Johnson exclaimed.
The law is clear. Local police officers do not act as federal agents. It is obvious. This so-called Border Czar appears to be becoming more educated throughout his, you know, his, I suppose, speaking tour. Johnson’s accusatory tone was a reminder of the blatant ignorance within the Trump Administration that is causing chaos and displacement.
The rest of the conversation was also useless. CNN’s Blackwell repeatedly pressed Johnson about this issue and asked him if his sanctuary ordinances prevented the police from telling ICE that there were illegal aliens in jails in his city, or if he – as mayor – simply intended to enforce a policy of preventing such cooperation. The mayor, however, refused to answer directly and danced around the subject. He repeatedly resorted to the canard “the police aren’t immigration agents”, when in fact no one – including Homan – has ever claimed that they are.
Johnson falsely claimed in a later interview that Jesus of Nazareth had been a “refugee”, when he was conceived.
Johnson yelled out: “There are people across the country who will celebrate this holiday about the birth of Jesus Christ, who fled political oppression and religious persecution as a refugee or asylum seeker.”
All of this is false, of course. Christ’s parents weren’t “refugees” or “asylum-seekers,” and he wasn’t born when they were “fleeing”. Mary and Joseph Christ’s parents were not “fleeing” their home, but rather filing their taxes during their visit to Bethlehem.
Despite a constant barrage of false statements, incorrect factoids, and liberal talking points, Johnson never told Blackwell’s audiences if he planned to use the Chicago Police Department as a physical barrier to ICE agents performing their duties in rounding up and deporting illegal aliens from Windy City.
