Chicago Daycare Employee Detained by ICE Sparks Outrage

Thu Nov 06 2025 00:05:14 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A shocking incident in Chicago as a daycare employee was detained by immigration authorities in front of children and parents at a preschool, igniting a wave of protests and concerns about aggressive immigration enforcement tactics.

An employee at the Rayito de Sol daycare in Chicago was detained by ICE agents as children were being dropped off, leading to emotional scenes as parents expressed their outrage and concern for the treatment of staff members. The incident reflects the ongoing escalations in immigration enforcement under the current administration, with local officials and community members calling for accountability.

CHICAGO (RTWNews) — In a disturbing development, an employee of a Chicago daycare and preschool was detained by immigration authorities this Wednesday morning as parents were dropping off their children, highlighting the increasingly aggressive policies of the current administration.

Witnesses report that the employee rushed into the Rayito de Sol Early Learning Center just as federal agents arrived, with officers identified as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detaining her between two glass doors. As she was taken into custody, she affirmed her U.S. citizenship, but that did not prevent the agents from entering the facility to question other staff and parents.

This incident stood out even amidst the recent Operation Midway Blitz, which has led to over 3,000 arrests in the Chicago area since September, employing military-style tactics including nighttime raids. Parents, clearly shaken, gathered outside the preschool expressing their dismay and frustration, with many feeling that such actions disrupt the safe environment they seek for their children.

Gregory Bovino, a senior Border Patrol official, has defended these aggressive tactics amid criticism, stating that agents see themselves as sanctuary busters in cities that limit cooperation with immigration enforcement. This perspective reflects a broader initiative that raises alarms about the treatment of workers and families in these communities.

Parents like Esmeralda Rosales, whose child was taught by the detained employee, shared their heartbreak, emphasizing that the staff at the daycare are some of the kindest individuals and do not deserve such treatment. Observers noted that the heavy-handed approach during this particular time, when families were arriving to drop off their children, only intensified the emotional impact of the situation.

As the story unfolds, community response has been one of unity against these tactics, signaling a growing movement to advocate for immigrant rights and worker protections in the face of such mounting pressures.