Alderman Ray Lopez of Chicago’s 15th Ward joined guest host Chris Krok on Chicago’s Morning Answer for a wide-ranging, unsparing conversation about the city’s migrant crisis, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s economic proposals, CPS financial misconduct, and City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin’s controversial attempt to divest from U.S. Treasury bonds.
Lopez, one of the City Council’s most outspoken critics of the administration, began by outlining his proposed “bifurcated” immigration plan—one he recently sent directly to President Donald Trump. Lopez said the nation must distinguish between longtime undocumented residents and the millions who arrived under the Biden–Harris administration.
Under Lopez’s proposal, undocumented individuals who have lived in the U.S. since before the Obama era, maintained clean criminal records, and have roots in their communities would pay a $2,500 fine and receive a presidential pardon granting a legal pathway to remain. “The vast majority who are not criminals and not dangerous can stay and start positively contributing with taxes and stability,” Lopez said.
But he argued that migrants who entered under Biden’s permissive policies—many given 7–10 years before their asylum cases are heard—must be removed. “When you allow asylum hearings a decade out, you’ve created de facto citizenship,” Lopez said. He said Trump has already rescinded protections for hundreds of thousands of recent arrivals and should accelerate that process if elected.
Pressed by Krok about Gov. JB Pritzker’s willingness to cooperate with such a plan, Lopez was blunt: “No. Absolutely not. Pritzker will never support deporting Biden–Harris migrants. This crisis has become a multibillion-dollar cash cow for non-profits and political patronage networks.”
Lopez warned the governor also has no incentive to legalize longtime undocumented residents, calling the political class dependent on maintaining Trump as a “boogeyman” rather than seeking solutions.
The alderman then turned to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed head tax on large employers—a $21-per-employee monthly fee first floated for companies with 100 workers and now moved to 200. Lopez said Johnson isn’t pulling numbers “out of his head, but out of somewhere else,” calling the tax economically catastrophic.
He cited Jewel-Osco as an example: with 35,000 employees, the grocery chain would pay nearly $7 million per year for the privilege of operating in Chicago. “This is asinine economic policy,” Lopez said. “These companies already voluntarily invest millions in job training and workforce development. You don’t punish the people staffing communities.”
Lopez applauded a recent Chicago Tribune editorial blasting the mayor’s rhetoric toward corporations that have committed to hiring 20,000 residents from the South and West sides. “It is appalling,” Lopez said. “They’re insulting the same companies keeping this city alive.”
He warned that corporations—even historically loyal ones—are already eyeing exits as crime, taxes, and regulations worsen. “We’ve seen McDonald’s threaten to leave, Walgreens collapsing, United Airlines wavering. And that’s before we talk about the mom-and-pop shops being crushed by fines, fees, and bureaucratic insanity.”
The conversation shifted to Chicago Public Schools, where a blistering Inspector General report revealed district employees expensing safari trips, hot-air balloon rides, Las Vegas conferences at five-star hotels, and even a $20,000 Egypt trip—despite a $700 million budget deficit and mass layoffs.
“It’s disgusting,” Lopez said. “Our kids can’t read or do math at grade level. Yet CPS staff are living it up at the Bellagio. This is entitlement, not education.”
He singled out the Chicago Teachers Union for demanding more taxpayer money while its leadership enjoys lavish perks. “Stacy Davis Gates drools over TIF money while families suffer,” he said.
Finally, Lopez addressed his viral city-council exchange with Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, who announced plans to divest Chicago’s portfolio from U.S. Treasury bonds due to Donald Trump’s election—calling it “investing in the residents of Chicago.”
Lopez called the move reckless, political, and financially illiterate. “We’re not talking about investing in Trump Tower,” he said. “We’re talking about the most secure financial instrument in the world: U.S. Treasury bills. Her plan hurts taxpayers so she can posture for her congressional campaign.”
He said the Council is already preparing measures to override the treasurer’s decision and ensure the city continues investing in secure federal assets—not political messaging.
As the interview wrapped, Lopez reiterated his central concern: “Chicago cannot survive policymaking that is ideological first and practical last. We have 472 days left in this administration to stop the damage.”
The alderman promised he would continue calling out what he describes as waste, mismanagement, and dangerous political gamesmanship at City Hall.