Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez sat down with Ben Bergquam for a no-holds-barred discussion about the failures of sanctuary city policies and the Democratic Party’s radical shift. Lopez, a Democrat himself, condemned the party’s refusal to address crime and illegal immigration, calling out fellow Democrats for putting ideology over public safety.
This interview showcased the deep divisions within the Democratic Party. Lopez, an old-school Democrat, stands at odds with the party’s new direction. His warning? If Democrats keep prioritizing ideology over safety, they’ll lose voters—permanently.
Bergquam: “You’re a Democrat in Chicago, opposing your own party’s sanctuary policies. Why?”
Lopez: “It’s common sense. We should all want America to be a place where people come legally, work hard, and pursue the American dream. But if you come here and commit crimes, you should be deported. The majority of people agree with that.”
Bergquam: “So why the resistance from your own party?”
Lopez: “It’s all about opposing Trump. They’d rather protect criminals than admit he’s right. Last week, I proposed a small amendment to our sanctuary law—just to allow police to work with ICE on serious crimes like human trafficking, gang activity, and sex crimes against minors. Only 11 of 50 council members supported it. The rest shut it down. That’s insanity.”
Lopez didn’t hold back on his criticism of Democratic leaders, including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.
**Lopez: “Pritzker is already changing his tone. A year ago, he was saying ‘Over my dead body’ to deportations. Now, suddenly, he’s talking about cracking down on criminals. Why? Because he sees the writing on the wall. People are fed up. Johnson, though? He’s still clinging to the far-left dream, refusing to acknowledge reality.”
Bergquam: “Is that why Chicago and other Democrat strongholds are shifting toward Trump?”
Lopez: “Absolutely. Traditional Democratic voters—Black, Latino, Jewish communities—are realizing this isn’t the party they grew up with. The party is abandoning them for new, extreme demographics with zero loyalty. And Republicans, whether intentional or not, are welcoming the disillusioned Democrats with open arms.”
Bergquam: “So, is the shift permanent?”
Lopez: “If Trump plays it right, it could be. If he can prove the Republican Party is about common sense, not the old ‘Pete Wilson’ era of hostility, he could make lasting changes.”
Bergquam: “You mentioned Biden and Obama. What’s your take on how they handled immigration?”
Lopez: “Biden and Harris threw the borders open, creating a crisis. But let’s not forget Obama was the ‘Deporter-in-Chief.’ And yet, suddenly, Democrats are acting like deporting criminals is a Trump-only thing? That’s pure hypocrisy. They ignored the undocumented who have been here for years, working, contributing—while fast-tracking new arrivals for political gain.”
Bergquam: “Are there other Democrats willing to stand up with you?”
Lopez: “I think so. More people are waking up. But it takes guts to go against the party machine. The Democratic Party is at a crossroads—either return to common sense or become completely irrelevant.”
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