Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's recently approved 2025 budget has sparked significant controversy due to its allocation of substantial funds for migrants. Public outcry reached a boiling point during a city council meeting on Monday, where residents protesting the budget were removed by police after the mayor called a recess. The contentious budget ultimately passed with a narrow margin of 26 votes following six weeks of heated debate, during which a proposed $300 million property tax increase was successfully removed.
A key point of contention for residents is a $40 million short-term loan included in the budget, which effectively delays the city's debt repayment. Several residents voiced their anger during the public comment period, accusing Johnson of mismanaging funds and prioritizing migrants over Chicago citizens. One resident explicitly stated, "You caused all this money to go to illegal immigrants… Anything that you all pass is not genuine." Another resident accused Johnson of failing to "protect the people of Chicago from invasion." Further criticism targeted the mayor's staffing decisions, with allegations of excessive hires and inflated salaries. Chicago reporter William Kelly reported that Johnson has over 100 staffers, each earning six-figure salaries, with many positions perceived as unnecessary.
One resident directly addressed Johnson, stating, "He wants to pull a $40 million line of credit and put the city in even more debt. It's your fault, because you gave half of the money to illegals." Kelly specifically pointed to the vice mayor's substantial salary as an example of wasteful spending, noting that the individual, a former alderman with a past conviction for armed robbery, receives nearly half a million dollars in addition to his aldermanic salary for a position with seemingly minimal responsibilities.
The controversy surrounding Johnson's immigration policies has drawn attention from President-elect Trump's incoming administration. Tom Homan, Trump's nominee for border czar, has singled out Chicago as a primary target for future deportations. In a recent statement, Homan declared, "Chicago is in trouble because your mayor sucks and your governor sucks. And we're going to start right here in Chicago, Illinois." He further warned that he would prosecute Mayor Johnson if he impeded federal immigration enforcement efforts or knowingly harbored illegal immigrants.
