Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton participated in the 93rd annual Bud Billiken Parade on King Drive in Chicago, Illinois, on August 13, 2022. The parade, the largest African American event in the U.S., drew significant attention as a cultural milestone.
By Mark Vargas
Thursday, October 30, 2025, 10:30 AM EDT
For decades, Democrats have controlled Chicago’s political landscape, promising progress while critics argue systemic neglect has left marginalized communities behind. The party’s influence extends across the mayor’s office, city council, and Springfield, with allegations of misallocated resources.
Residents on Chicago’s South and West Sides, where Black families have faced long-term challenges, question whether Democratic policies have prioritized their needs. Critics highlight underfunded hospitals, failing schools, and rising crime rates as symptoms of broader neglect.
During the past years, Chicago’s Democrat leaders, including Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. JB Pritzker, have directed substantial funds toward migrant services. These efforts include free healthcare for undocumented adults, a benefit many low-income Black residents cannot access. Meanwhile, hospitals in predominantly Black neighborhoods face closures or reduced services, leaving pregnant mothers without prenatal care and gunshot victims awaiting delayed emergency response.
The article contends that billions of taxpayer dollars have been redirected to support illegal immigrants, diverting resources from local priorities such as trauma center reopenings, hospital repairs, and youth job programs. Critics argue this reflects a prioritization of sanctuary policies over the needs of long-standing residents.
Gov. Pritzker’s administration has allocated nearly $2.5 billion for migrant services, sparking debate over resource allocation. Meanwhile, Black communities report unmet needs, including unsafe neighborhoods and limited access to healthcare.
Mayor Johnson recently faced scrutiny for equating the term “illegal alien” with historical references to slavery, a comparison critics label as conflating distinct issues. The article frames this as a failure to address legal immigration while emphasizing the need for enforcement of existing laws.
The piece contrasts Democratic leadership with the policies of former President Donald Trump, who is portrayed as challenging what the author describes as a system that prioritizes illegal immigrants over citizens. It cites rising support among Black voters for Trump’s emphasis on “America First” principles, arguing that his approach resonates with those disillusioned by perceived systemic failures.
The article concludes by framing Trump as a figure offering solutions to the struggles of marginalized communities, urging a focus on domestic priorities over what is described as an imbalance in resource distribution.
