Teacher ‘Violently Dragged’ from Chicago Daycare by Armed ICE Agents in Front of Children — Alderman Calls It “The Most Chilling Footage” He’s Ever Seen
A typical morning at Rayito de Sol, a bilingual preschool in Chicago’s North Side, erupted into chaos on November 5 when armed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stormed the building and forcefully detained a teacher in front of stunned children, parents, and staff. What began as a quiet day of drop-offs turned into what local officials are calling one of the most disturbing immigration enforcement scenes the city has seen in years.
According to Chicago Alderman Matt Martin, who represents the area, the arrest was not only unnecessary but traumatic for everyone involved. “This is some of the most chilling video footage I have ever seen,” Martin said in a public statement. “There’s no justification for armed agents storming a daycare where children were present.”
Witnesses say the teacher, whose name has not been officially released but has been identified by multiple outlets as Colombian national Diana Patricia Santillana Galeano, was inside the preschool when several ICE agents entered around 7 a.m. Wearing tactical gear and carrying rifles, they pulled her outside as she cried out in Spanish that she had proper documentation. Several parents, already on-site to drop off their kids, recorded the incident on their phones.
In the footage shared with local news stations, Galeano can be heard shouting “Tengo papeles” — “I have papers” — as she’s restrained by agents in front of crying toddlers. The sound of her voice mixes with the background chaos: parents screaming, teachers trying to comfort children, and the low rumble of tactical vehicles outside.
The scene has since drawn nationwide attention and intense criticism of federal immigration practices. Parents at Rayito de Sol say they are still in shock. “It was absolute chaos,” said one mother who arrived just as the agents entered. “Children were crying, parents were yelling, and we didn’t know what was happening. To see someone you know and trust — your child’s teacher — treated like that was horrifying.”
Another parent, Adam Gonzalez, told People: “It’s really heart-wrenching to know that someone who has poured herself into my child is now gone. My daughter keeps asking where her teacher went. I don’t know what to tell her.”
In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Galeano was taken into custody but insisted the daycare itself was not targeted. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the arrest followed a “targeted traffic stop” after Galeano and a male companion allegedly fled from ICE agents and entered the building to evade arrest. McLaughlin said the agents acted “with restraint” and made the arrest “in the vestibule, not in a classroom.”
But local officials and eyewitnesses reject that explanation, claiming the operation endangered children and violated the spirit of “sensitive location” protections — federal guidelines that discourage enforcement actions at schools, churches, and hospitals. Alderman Martin said the agents entered deeper into the daycare than DHS admits and that footage clearly shows children were present and visibly terrified. “These kids were not witnesses — they were victims of trauma,” Martin said.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson condemned the operation as “reckless and inhumane,” adding that his office has contacted federal authorities for an immediate investigation. “The idea that a preschool could become a stage for an armed federal operation is beyond comprehension,” he said.
Community leaders and immigrant-rights advocates echoed that outrage. “This sends a chilling message to every immigrant parent and child in America,” said immigration attorney Erika Gonzalez of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. “If even a daycare isn’t safe from ICE, what is?”
The fallout has been swift. Parents have launched petitions calling for congressional hearings and stronger “safe zone” legislation. The preschool temporarily shut down to allow staff and families to process the event, with counseling services brought in to help children cope with what they saw. “No child should ever associate school with fear,” said one parent. “This was supposed to be a place of learning and love.”
Advocacy groups argue that even if ICE claims the arrest wasn’t directly aimed at the daycare, the agency’s conduct shows a disregard for public safety and basic decency. “When heavily armed agents enter a facility full of small children, that’s not enforcement — that’s intimidation,” said a representative from the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Federal authorities, however, maintain that their agents acted lawfully. In an updated statement, ICE insisted that Galeano had overstayed her visa and ignored multiple removal orders, and that her companion was also wanted for immigration violations. Officials said the pair attempted to flee, endangering others in the process, forcing agents to act quickly. “At no time were children in danger,” the statement read. “The daycare was not a target. The arrest occurred only after subjects entered the building without authorization.”
Still, that explanation has done little to calm public anger. Local residents held a candlelight vigil outside the preschool the following night, holding signs that read “Schools Are Not Battlefields” and “Children Deserve Safety.” Parents described the emotional toll on their kids, who have since become fearful of police and loud noises.
Experts warn that incidents like this can have lasting psychological effects. “Children process trauma differently, but they remember fear vividly,” said Dr. Anita Flores, a child psychologist at Northwestern University. “A single frightening event in what should be a safe space can alter how a child perceives safety and authority.”
As of now, Galeano remains in federal custody pending immigration proceedings. Attorneys working with her family say she has a valid work permit through 2026 and no criminal record. “She’s an educator, a community member, and a beloved teacher,” said her attorney, Maria Alvarez. “To treat her like a criminal in front of children was unnecessary and cruel.”
Meanwhile, federal and local officials continue to exchange blame. DHS insists local politicians are “politicizing” the situation, while Chicago city leaders demand clearer guidelines to prevent future incidents in schools and childcare centers. The debate has reignited tensions between federal immigration policy and so-called sanctuary cities like Chicago, which have vowed to protect undocumented residents from aggressive enforcement tactics.
For the staff at Rayito de Sol, the incident left emotional scars that will take time to heal. “We’re teachers, not politicians,” said one educator, who asked not to be named. “We just want to care for our kids. None of us were prepared to see something like that — not here, not ever.”
The daycare has since increased security, and parents say they’re reconsidering whether to send their children back. Many say they no longer feel safe, not because of crime or strangers, but because of the government’s actions. “You never expect something like this to happen where your child plays and learns,” said one mother. “It’s going to take a long time to rebuild trust.”
What remains now are haunting memories and an unanswered question: should federal agents ever carry out operations in spaces where children learn, play, and grow? For the families of Rayito de Sol, the answer is already clear. The image of their teacher being dragged away will stay with them — and their children — for years to come.
