1 week Ago
CHICAGO - Chicago Public Schools claims U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents visited a South Side elementary school on Friday morning.
However, ICE denies sending agents to the location. What we know: According to CPS, the agents arrived at Hamline Elementary School in the Back of the Yards neighborhood around 11:15 a.m.
Staff followed CPS protocols, keeping the agents outside while contacting the district's Law Department and Office of Safety and Security, the school's principal said. The agents were not allowed inside or permitted to speak with students or staff. Teaching and learning continued uninterrupted for the remainder of the day.
ICE Responds : FOX 32 Chicago reached out to ICE for confirmation of the incident. A spokesperson stated, "This was not a U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement encounter" and directed inquiries to local law enforcement. We also reached out to the Chicago Police Department, who said they "did not receive any calls for service at that location." CPS Addresses Concerns: "CPS has been in communication with our labor partners and community organizations who have worked to inform and support our school communities," CPS said in part.
The district has also provided principals and staff with guidance on students’ rights and protections related to ICE visits. Under the City of Chicago's Welcoming City Ordinance , ICE agents are barred from accessing CPS facilities without proper credentials, a valid purpose, and a criminal judicial warrant signed by a federal judge, according to CPS officials. A judicial warrant is also required for ICE to search school property or seize records.
Context and Next Steps: While ICE is generally allowed to arrest, interview, search, and surveil individuals in public spaces, such as courthouses or bus stops, without a judicial warrant, stricter rules apply to school facilities, CPS officials said. The school district has reached out to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to request additional resources and support. For more information on CPS' guidance and resources, follow this link .
What they're saying: "The attempted ICE raid on Hamline Elementary in Chicago today is an attack on not just Chicago’s immigrant community, but our entire city. Chicago is a city of immigrants. I am proud of the way workers and CPS stood firm to defend their students and staff from harassment.
We will not be bullied. We know our rights and will continue to make sure our community knows how to exercise their legal rights," said President of the Chicago Federation of Labor Bob Reiter. "Our schools must remain a safe haven where children, families, and staff can come and go without fear of intimidation from ICE.
These places of learning often serve as a second home to students, and they should never become grounds for anxiety or distress, especially for our children. "I am grateful that our school personnel are trained and prepared to handle these situations. We will keep educating our community and working together to ensure everyone knows their rights and knows how to navigate potential interactions with immigration officials.
"Chicago and Illinois have led the nation with laws that welcome and protect immigrants, and prohibit coordination with ICE. We will continue to defend our diverse immigrant communities against Trump’s anti-immigrant harassment attempts," said Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García. National Context : This incident comes amid a nationwide ICE operation under the Trump administration that resulted in more than 460 arrests, including in Illinois.
These operations target undocumented immigrants with criminal records. Arrests have also been reported in Utah, California, Minnesota, New York, Florida, and Maryland. The information in this article was provided by Chicago Public Schools.
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