Secret Service mistaken for ICE throughout go to to Chicago elementary college
After Chicago Public Colleges initially claimed ICE brokers visited a Southwest Facet elementary college Friday morning, it was later confirmed that this was not the case.
CHICAGO – After Chicago Public Colleges (CPS) initially claimed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brokers visited a Southwest Facet elementary college Friday morning, it was later confirmed that this was not the case.
As a substitute, U.S. Secret Service brokers have been investigating a menace linked to the TikTok ban.
False Alarm of ICE Go to at Chicago College
What Occurred?:
The Secret Service responded to a menace originating from a house close to John H. Hamline Elementary College within the Again of the Yards neighborhood.
The menace focused a person underneath Secret Service safety, although additional particulars haven’t been launched.
Nobody was current on the dwelling, prompting brokers to go to the elementary college round 11:15 a.m.
In keeping with CPS, two brokers introduced identification after they arrived on the college that included Division of Homeland Safety (DHS).
CPS famous that the company overseeing ICE additionally falls underneath DHS, resulting in preliminary confusion.
“College officers proceeded to answer the brokers with the understanding that they have been from ICE, amid rumors and reviews that the company was locally,” CPS mentioned in a press release Friday night time.
Following protocol, college personnel contacted the district’s Legislation Division and Workplace of Security and Safety whereas maintaining the brokers outdoors.
The brokers weren’t allowed inside the college and left their enterprise playing cards with college workers. They didn’t communicate with college students or workers, and instructing continued uninterrupted.
You’ll be able to learn CPS’ full assertion under:
“Earlier at present, Chicago Public College leaders shared that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brokers confirmed up this morning (Friday) at Hamline Elementary College.
“After our District officers shared public statements, we realized that the brokers who visited the college have been from the U.S. Secret Service. Our authentic communication was a results of a misunderstanding, reflective of the concern and considerations locally amid the brand new administration’s give attention to undocumented immigrants.
“Right here’s what occurred: Two people confirmed up on the college door and introduced identification that features the title Division of Homeland Safety, the federal company that oversees ICE. College officers proceeded to answer the brokers with the understanding that they have been from ICE, amid rumors and reviews that the company was locally.
“No matter which department of Homeland Safety visited this college, officers adopted the established protocols to make sure pupil security. The brokers weren’t allowed into the college or permitted to talk with workers or college students. Hamline directors additionally labored with CPS’ Legislation Division and CPS’ Workplace of Security and Safety. The state of affairs was dealt with with the federal brokers leaving the campus with out entry.
“Whereas this was a misunderstanding when it comes to the precise department of DHS, the college’s response demonstrates that our system, in partnership with neighborhood organizations, is ready and able to maintain our college students and workers protected.”
Chicago Mayor Speaks:
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson addressed the incident with a press release at 7:45 p.m. Friday, shared under:
“Chicago will all the time be a welcoming metropolis, we are going to all the time uphold the Welcoming Metropolis Ordinance, and we are going to all the time defend our college students and each resident of our metropolis. As we speak Secret Service brokers, not ICE brokers, have been current at John H. Hamline Elementary College. Whereas folks cross the town are anxious about heightened immigration enforcement, it’s crucial that people not unfold unverified info that sparks concern throughout the town,” Johnson mentioned. “I urge everybody throughout Chicago to go to www.chicago.gov to overview the steering supplied to Metropolis companies and the Know Your Rights and Assets info my administration launched.”
ICE Responds :
FOX 32 Chicago reached out to ICE when the incident was first reported, which confirmed that the incident didn’t contain their brokers.
A spokesperson said, “This was not a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement encounter” and directed inquiries to native regulation enforcement.
The Chicago Police Division reported receiving no requires service on the location.
CPS Addresses ICE Considerations:
“CPS has been in communication with our labor companions and neighborhood organizations who’ve labored to tell and help our faculty communities,” CPS mentioned partly.
The district has additionally supplied principals and workers with steering on college students’ rights and protections associated to ICE visits.
Underneath the Metropolis of Chicago’s Welcoming Metropolis Ordinance, ICE brokers are barred from accessing CPS amenities with out correct credentials, a legitimate objective, and a felony judicial warrant signed by a federal choose, in response to CPS officers.
A judicial warrant can be required for ICE to look college property or seize information.
For extra info on CPS’ steering and assets, observe this hyperlink.
Preliminary Response:
“The tried ICE raid on Hamline Elementary in Chicago at present is an assault on not simply Chicago’s immigrant neighborhood, however our total metropolis. Chicago is a metropolis of immigrants. I’m pleased with the best way employees and CPS stood agency to defend their college students and workers from harassment. We won’t be bullied. We all know our rights and can proceed to verify our neighborhood is aware of methods to train their authorized rights,” mentioned President of the Chicago Federation of Labor Bob Reiter.
“Our colleges should stay a protected haven the place youngsters, households, and workers can come and go with out concern of intimidation from ICE. These locations of studying usually function a second dwelling to college students, and they need to by no means grow to be grounds for anxiousness or misery, particularly for our kids.
“I’m grateful that our faculty personnel are skilled and ready to deal with these conditions. We are going to maintain educating our neighborhood and dealing collectively to make sure everybody is aware of their rights and is aware of methods to navigate potential interactions with immigration officers.
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“Chicago and Illinois have led the nation with legal guidelines that welcome and defend immigrants, and prohibit coordination with ICE. We are going to proceed to defend our numerous immigrant communities towards Trump’s anti-immigrant harassment makes an attempt,” mentioned Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García.
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“There may be completely no cause that ICE ought to try to enter elementary colleges. To ship federal brokers to a college is traumatizing for ALL youngsters. Colleges are locations the place youngsters can study, develop, and construct a neighborhood. When ICE arrives, a baby doesn’t know if they’re there for them, a buddy, or a trusted grownup. It’s sickening, pointless, and dangerous to any youngster who attends a college the place ICE reveals up. Disgrace on Donald Trump for placing youngsters in hurt’s approach,” mentioned Congressman Sean Casten.
Nationwide Context :
This incident follows ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement underneath Trump’s second White Home time period.
Since taking the oath on Monday, ICE has carried out nationwide operations leading to greater than 460 arrests, together with in Illinois. The operations have focused undocumented immigrants with felony information.
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