ICE detains Chicago daycare teacher; federal judge rules detention illegal
Nov 6, 2025·Location: Chicago, IL
Country of origin: Colombia

On November 5, 2025, ICE agents detained Diana Patricia Santillana Galeano, a teacher at Rayito de Sol Spanish Immersion Early Learning Center in Chicago's North Center neighborhood, during morning drop-off hours. According to DHS, officers conducted a traffic stop that led to a vehicle pursuit ending at the daycare facility. Agents entered and forcibly removed Galeano in front of children and parents, searching the facility. Galeano claimed to have work authorization and a pending asylum case, while DHS identified her as undocumented from Colombia. A federal judge subsequently ruled her mandatory detention illegal and ordered a bond hearing before an immigration judge. The incident prompted a rally of hundreds of community members and local officials demanding ICE stay out of schools and daycares.
Timeline
Sources
- ICE agents detain teacher at Chicago daycare Rayito del Sol in North Center
- Chicago day care teacher detained by ICE agents inside childcare center
CNN·Nov 6, 2025·archived copy
- Teacher detained by ICE at Chicago Rayito del Sol daycare believed to be at Broadview facility
- CBS News
- 'Yo tengo papeles': Teacher detained by immigration agents in North Center day care
Chicago Sun-Times·Nov 6, 2025·archived copy
- Day care worker arrested by ICE in front of kids on North Side, witnesses say; large protest held
abc7chicago.com·Nov 5, 2025·archived copy
- Families Rally After Feds Take Chicago Daycare Teacher: 'We Are Filled With Rage'
blockclubchicago.org·Nov 6, 2025·archived copy
- “They dragged her out in front of the kids”: Inside Chicago’s ICE raid at a bilingual daycare
- Teacher pulled out of Chicago daycare by armed ICE agents, alderman says
nbcchicago.com·Nov 5, 2025·archived copy
- Judge rules mandatory detention of Chicago day care teacher by ICE is illegal
Chicago Tribune·Nov 12, 2025·archived copy
- Day care teacher freed after judge rules her immigration arrest 'unlawful'
Chicago Sun-Times·Nov 13, 2025·archived copy
- Chicago day care worker detained by immigration agents at drop-off time for children
abc15.com·Nov 6, 2025·archived copy
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