DHS clarifies what it calls ‘false claims’ about agent’s actions at North Side day care

CHICAGO — After the arrest of a teacher at a daycare on the city’s North Side on Wednesday morning, federal officials are looking to clear up what they are calling “false claims” about the incident, as well as the agency’s ongoing immigration enforcement operation.

The incident on Wednesday morning unfolded around 7:05 a.m. at Rayito de Sol Spanish Immersion Early Learning Center, located at 2550 West Addison Street in the North Center neighborhood.

Video captured on the scene shows two federal agents pulling the woman from the facility as they were taking her into custody.

Officials from the Day Care confirmed that the woman arrested was a teacher at the facility.

“Today, a teacher at Rayito de Sol Spanish Immersion Early Learning Center – Roscoe Village was detained by agents from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when arriving at work. Rayito de Sol staff and leadership were not involved, nor did they have prior knowledge.
As you may have seen through news reports and social media, it appears that two agents entered the location despite signage indicating that it is a private business, and despite not presenting any judicial warrant. Our teachers and staff took quick action to maintain the safety and security of all children during this time.
As always, our primary focus is the well-being of the children whose care has been entrusted to us. We know this news is frightening and concerning for you and your children. The National Institute of Mental Health’s advice and guidance for conversations with children after traumatic events is an initial resource.
Our Roscoe Village location is currently closed and will reopen Monday, Nov. 10. Credits will be applied to your next month. We apologize for any inconvenience.
We are providing additional support to our teachers and staff, and our families, during this time. We are also actively examining efforts to assist our detained teacher. At this time, we appreciate your understanding around this situation and help in maintaining our teachers’ privacy and the privacy our all our students and staff.”
Laura Velasquez, Center Director – Roscoe Village 

In a statement shared Wednesday, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the woman and a man were being pursued by federal agents prior to the arrest and added that agents did not target the day care.

Instead, McLaughlin claims that agents did not target the day care and had followed the woman into the facility after she and another individual who were being pursued by federal agents refused to stop.

“ICE law enforcement did NOT target a Daycare. Officers attempted to conduct a targeted traffic stop of this female illegal alien from Colombia.  Officers attempted to pull over this vehicle, which was registered to a female illegal alien, with sirens and emergency lights, but the male driver refused to pull the vehicle over. Law enforcement pursued the vehicle before the assailant sped into a shopping plaza where he and the female passenger fled the vehicle. They ran into a daycare and attempted to barricade themselves inside the daycare—recklessly endangering the children inside.  The illegal alien female was arrested inside a vestibule, not in the school. Upon arrest, she lied about her identity. The vehicle is registered to in her name, though she claims that she didn’t know the man who was driving her car and just picked him up from a bus stop.  Facts including criminality and information on the male assailant are forthcoming and we will update the public with more information as soon as it becomes available.”
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin

DHS clarifies “false claims”

In addition to the statement clarifying the details on the incident, McLaughlin also shared a list of what she called “false claims” and “facts” surrounding the incident and the ongoing immigration enforcement operations.

DHS provided the following list of “claims” and “facts”:

• FALSE CLAIM: ICE made an arrest inside a daycare center in Chicago.”
• THE FACTS: The male passenger barricaded himself inside the daycare center—recklessly endangering the children inside. However, Galeano could not enter through the second set of locked doors.”

• FALSE CLAIM: ICE arrested the illegal alien in front of children.
• THE FACTS: ICE did NOT arrest her in front of children.

• FALSE CLAIM: ICE is not going after the ‘worst of the worst.’
• THE FACTS: President Trump and Secretary Noem are restoring the rule of law in the U.S. and directing ICE to target criminal illegal aliens. More than 70% of all ICE arrests are of aliens with pending charges and convictions in the U.S.

• FALSE CLAIM: The woman arrested was in the country legally with employment authorization.
• THE FACTS: Work authorization does NOT confer any type of legal status to be in the U.S. The illegal alien’s work authorization was approved by the Biden administration, which exploited this loophole to help facilitate the invasion of our country.

DHS further claims that the woman arrested initially encountered Border Patrol on June 26, 2023, after she allegedly crossed the southern border illegally, but was later released into the U.S. by the Biden administration.

Additionally, DHS alleges that the woman reportedly paid smugglers to illegally bring her 17-year-old and 16-year-old children into U.S. via the southern border. 

“Facilitating human smuggling is a crime,” DHS officials said in a statement on Thursday.

Officials from the day care say the facility will remain closed through Monday.