CHICAGO — A Chicago day care center employee, Diana Santillana Galeano, was released from detention after being apprehended by immigration agents while at work amidst the arrival of children at the Rayito de Sol Spanish Immersion Early Learning Center last week.
Video footage of the incident circulated widely, showing her being led away by officers, sparking widespread concern and backlash from the community urging respect for immigrant rights. Her attorney announced her release late Wednesday from a detention facility in Indiana.
We are thrilled that Ms. Santillana was released, and has been able to return home to Chicago where she belongs, said attorney Charlie Wysong. He emphasized the ongoing community support and the need for privacy as she recuperates from her ordeal. Santillana herself expressed gratitude for the efforts made on her behalf and stated her eagerness to return to work with the children she teaches.
Her detention highlights the more aggressive immigration enforcement tactics employed recently in Chicago, dubbed 'Operation Midway Blitz', which has seen more than 3,000 arrests since its inception in early September 2023. This case, however, stands out as her detention took place in a location particularly sensitive for community members — a day care.
The Department of Homeland Security has stated that while Santillana entered the U.S. illegally in June 2023, she had also received work authorization under the Biden administration, insisting that the day care center was not the intended target of their operation.
As the community processes this incident, it raises questions about the future of immigration policy and the enforcement practices in the area, as many residents call for greater protections for vulnerable populations.
