CHICAGO (AP) — An incident at a Chicago daycare center where an employee was detained by immigration authorities has left parents and staff in shock. The episode occurred on Wednesday morning at the Rayito de Sol Spanish Immersion Early Learning Center as parents were dropping off their children. Witnesses described how the employee fled from a vehicle and was detained by ICE officers, who arrived shortly after her. Alderman Matt Martin shared witness accounts stating that the employee was caught between two glass doors, asserting her U.S. citizenship to the agents.
This unusual event is part of the broader context of Operation Midway Blitz, an initiative that has led to over 3,000 immigration arrests in the Chicago area since early September, raising concerns over the aggressive tactics employed by the Trump administration.
The officers present during the incident were clearly marked as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, adding to the alarm as parents watched their children's teacher being restrained and removed. Eyewitnesses noted the chaos and confusion, with one parent leaving their child in the car to film the scene, reflecting the tense atmosphere surrounding the incident.
In the aftermath, parents like Esmeralda Rosales expressed their dismay, describing the staff at the preschool as kind and deserving of better treatment. Another parent highlighted the distress caused to families witnessing the arrest during peak drop-off hours, emphasizing the emotional impact on both children and their parents.
ICE and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have yet to comment on the incident. Following the detention, the preschool in Roscoe Village closed for the day, emphasizing the disturbance caused by the enforcement operation. The presence of immigration officers has sparked protests and heightened fear within the immigrant community, as officials like Gregory Bovino, a senior Border Patrol official, continue to defend the administration's stringent tactics against sanctuary cities like Chicago.
This unusual event is part of the broader context of Operation Midway Blitz, an initiative that has led to over 3,000 immigration arrests in the Chicago area since early September, raising concerns over the aggressive tactics employed by the Trump administration.
The officers present during the incident were clearly marked as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, adding to the alarm as parents watched their children's teacher being restrained and removed. Eyewitnesses noted the chaos and confusion, with one parent leaving their child in the car to film the scene, reflecting the tense atmosphere surrounding the incident.
In the aftermath, parents like Esmeralda Rosales expressed their dismay, describing the staff at the preschool as kind and deserving of better treatment. Another parent highlighted the distress caused to families witnessing the arrest during peak drop-off hours, emphasizing the emotional impact on both children and their parents.
ICE and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have yet to comment on the incident. Following the detention, the preschool in Roscoe Village closed for the day, emphasizing the disturbance caused by the enforcement operation. The presence of immigration officers has sparked protests and heightened fear within the immigrant community, as officials like Gregory Bovino, a senior Border Patrol official, continue to defend the administration's stringent tactics against sanctuary cities like Chicago.
