In a striking example of resistance to federal immigration crackdowns, Hamline Elementary School on the South Side of Chicago successfully prevented Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from entering its premises on Friday morning.
Following Chicago Public Schools (CPS) protocols, the school’s staff acted swiftly to block the agents, ensuring the safety of students and staff amidst growing fears in immigrant communities.
ICE agents reportedly arrived at the Back of the Yards neighborhood school around 11:15 a.m., according to CPS officials. The agents were denied entry as school administrators contacted CPS’s Law Department and Office of Safety and Security for guidance. Teaching continued uninterrupted, a testament to the school staff’s commitment to protecting its community.
CPS policies, rooted in the City of Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance, bar ICE from accessing schools unless they present official credentials, a valid reason, and a criminal judicial warrant signed by a federal judge. School officials confirmed that ICE did not meet these requirements. CPS also reiterated its refusal to share student records with ICE without a court order or parental consent.
Despite these clear protections, ICE denied involvement in the incident, labeling it a misunderstanding. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, did not clarify the nature of the agents’ presence at the school. However, CPS Chief Education Officer Bogdana Chkoumbova doubled down on reports that agents identified themselves as ICE personnel, and CPS CEO Pedro Martinez confirmed they presented Department of Homeland Security credentials.
In an interview with MSNBC shortly after the incident, CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said the agents “presented credentials and shared that they were from ICE.”
“They showed credentials to my staff,” Martinez said after being informed of the ICE spokesperson’s response.
The incident highlights the Trump administration’s intensification of anti-immigrant policies, including mass deportation operations. Since taking office, Trump has dismantled prior guidance that prohibited ICE raids at schools, churches, and hospitals, leaving immigrant families vulnerable in places once deemed safe.
Reports suggest that ICE is ramping up enforcement, targeting immigrant communities across Chicago and other cities under the guise of apprehending individuals with criminal records. However, indiscriminate arrests, including non-criminal detainees, have also been documented.
Hamline Elementary’s principal, Natasha Ortega, praised her staff for following CPS protocols and standing firm against the agents.
“We will not open our doors for ICE, and we are here to protect our children and community,” she declared, echoing the school’s solidarity with immigrant families.
The agents’ denial of their connection to ICE has done little to quell fears in immigrant neighborhoods, where such encounters often blur the line between truth and misinformation. Community advocates point out that federal agencies frequently obscure their actions, allowing fear and confusion to spread unchecked in vulnerable communities.
The incident underscores the growing anxiety in immigrant neighborhoods, where rumors of ICE raids spread like wildfire. Community organizations and labor groups are working alongside CPS to provide Know Your Rights training and resources for families facing potential federal enforcement. CPS has pledged to maintain its policies to protect students and staff, even as federal immigration crackdowns escalate.
Critics argue that these ICE operations are less about “protective intelligence” or public safety and more about stoking fear in immigrant communities. By targeting schools and other community spaces, ICE disrupts the fabric of working-class neighborhoods, driving a wedge between marginalized groups and diverting attention from broader systemic issues like wage inequality and corporate exploitation.
Trump’s ‘border czar’ Tom Homan said ICE had apprehended more than 3,000 people with criminal records in the first couple days of the administration. Trump officials provided few details about those arrests or proof of their criminal records.
Trump has long characterized immigrants as criminals, even though studies show that native-born Americans commit a higher share of violent felonies.
As the federal government doubles down on its attacks on immigrants, resistance at the local level remains crucial. Hamline Elementary’s actions reflect a broader commitment to solidarity, showing that communities can stand up to state violence and protect their most vulnerable members.