WATCH: Far-Left Chicago Mayor Brags About Protecting Illegal Aliens Over Americans and Creating ‘ICE-Free Zones’ in His Crime-Plagued City

In an interview on The Joy Reid Show, Chicago’s far-left Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson made a series of shocking statements, including that he prioritizes protecting illegal aliens and has created “ICE-free zones” in the city.

Johnson also claimed that the Trump administration is an example of the “tyranny and fascism” that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. warned about.

Johnson left little doubt about where his loyalties lie when discussing protection for various groups in Chicago.

“I’m going to stand up and protect working people… undocumented immigrants…whoever you are,” he stated.

WATCH:

Chicago Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson is proud to protect criminal illegal aliens over Americans:

“I’m going to stand up and protect working people… undocumented immigrants…whoever you are.” pic.twitter.com/KZogHoW4lQ

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 31, 2026

Johnson claimed that ICE taking illegal aliens into custody is fascism.

“It’s going to take all of us to push back against this tyranny, the fascism of course, that Dr. King warned us of 60 years ago,” he said.

WATCH:

Chicago Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson slanders the Trump administration as fascist:

“It’s going to take all of us to push back against this tyranny, the fascism of course, that Dr. King warned us of 60 years ago.” pic.twitter.com/ddLDT7rw4C

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 31, 2026

Referencing his own executive orders, he said, “Executive orders that I’ve signed here in Chicago, whether it’s creating ICE-free zones, whether it’s making sure that we are reaffirming our space as a welcoming space.”

These “ICE-free zones” are measures designed to restrict the operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in certain city facilities and areas, effectively creating safe havens that hinder federal officers from making immigration arrests or conducting investigations.

Johnson bragged that these orders are steps to maintain Chicago’s status as a welcoming city for illegal aliens, consistent with his sanctuary city policies that prohibit local cooperation with federal immigration authorities in many cases.

WATCH:

Chicago Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson brags about having ‘ICE free zones’ in Chicago.

“Executive orders that I’ve signed here in Chicago, whether it’s creating ICE free zones, whether it’s making sure that we are reaffirming our space as a welcoming space…” pic.twitter.com/O9QbukMj7k

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 31, 2026

Johnson has long been publicly anti-ICE, despite the high crime in the city and the financial burden this places on American taxpayers.

Chicago’s sanctuary city policies were formalized primarily through the Welcoming City Ordinance first enacted in 2012 and subsequently strengthened.

These policies restrict city employees, including police, from inquiring about someone’s immigration status in most circumstances.