Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson recently voiced strong objections to the term “illegal aliens” during a press conference. The Mayor argued against the use of this phrase when discussing individuals who have crossed our borders without permission.
The discussion arose when a reporter questioned Mayor Johnson about city spending related to those “illegal aliens” in Chicago, referencing a report supposedly required by the White House.
Mayor Johnson responded by saying that he does not use the term “illegal aliens”. He stated that these individuals are “undocumented individuals” and should be viewed as human beings.
This disagreement over terminology highlights an ongoing debate about how best to describe those who are in our country without proper documentation. Some believe terms like “illegal aliens” accurately reflect a violation of the law. Others prefer terms like “undocumented immigrants,” arguing it is more respectful and recognizes their humanity.
Following Mayor Johnson’s remarks, Representative Pramila Jayapal, also spoke, asserting that violations of immigration law are civil matters, not criminal ones.
The White House has not yet released a statement on the matter.
