Key Highlights
- ICE agents detained a teacher at Rayito del Sol daycare in North Center, Chicago.
- The video of the detainment shows two masked federal agents physically removing a woman from the facility.
- DHS claims the educator had fled from an ICE vehicle pursuit but parents and witnesses refute this claim.
- Local officials and community leaders condemn the actions of ICE, calling for immediate answers and investigation.
Incident at Rayito del Sol Daycare
On Wednesday morning, two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained a teacher at the Rayito del Sol Spanish Immersion school and daycare in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood. The incident was captured on video by a bystander who filmed the detainment as it unfolded inside the facility.
Video Evidence
The video shows two masked federal agents, labeled “POLICE” on their vests, physically removing a woman from the Rayito del Sol daycare. Parents witnessed the detainment and shared the footage with local WhatsApp groups and social media. Matt Champion, a parent who arrived for school early, captured the aftermath of the detention after witnessing ICE agents force a teacher into the back of a car.
Community Response
The incident has sparked outrage among parents and community leaders. Ald. Matt Martin, representing the 47th Ward where the daycare is located, described the video as “some of the most chilling footage” he had ever seen. He emphasized that children were present during the detainment, causing distress to both teachers and students.
Official Statements
A Biden-era rule made schools and other locations protected areas where immigration enforcement should generally not take place. However, this rule has been scrapped by the Trump administration. ICE acting director Todd Lyons stated that his officers would only enter sensitive locations if a fugitive flees there.
Parental Concerns
“This is not the worst of the worst,” said Adam Gonzalez, another parent whose child attends Rayito del Sol. “These are teachers. These are people who care. These are people who are parts of our community, who we need, that are being ripped apart.” Parent Maia Reed echoed this sentiment, saying, “The only people being harmed here is the community, our neighborhood. That is who is being terrorized right now.”
Political Condemnation
U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Chicago) called for immediate answers and accountability from DHS about this incident.
He pointed out that there are clear guidelines for immigration enforcement in sensitive places like schools, and criticized the administration’s actions as a “contempt for public safety and complete lack of humanity.” Maria Guzman, a city of Chicago employee whose child attends Rayito del Sol, said the agents entered the school without consent and without a warrant. She added that “Our communities don’t need this right now.”
Legal and Political Actions
A local bill to protect spaces like schools from immigration enforcement has been introduced by U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Chicago), who called for a congressional investigation into the incident.
She stated, “This is an agency that has gone rogue.” The school remains closed until Monday, November 10, and parents will be credited for lost days to their fees for next month.
As of the date of this report, the situation remains under scrutiny by local officials and community leaders who demand immediate release of the detained teacher and a thorough investigation into the actions of ICE agents. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between federal immigration policies and local communities in Chicago.
