Chicago day care worker at Rayito de Sol arrested by ICE in front of children, witnesses say

CHICAGO — A day care worker was arrested by ICE in front of young children on Wednesday morning, witnesses said.

Several witnesses said the incident happened inside the Rayito de Sol day care on the city’s North Side.

Several parents and aldermen said the armed agents with “ICE” on their jackets arrested the worker at the start of the school day.

Witnesses said the teacher was chased inside the day care center. They said the agents did now show a warrant and were not looking at her papers, despite the woman telling them she had documentation. She was then taken away.

Parents said they are upset, angry and worried about where agents might go next.

“You had agents with guns who were walking around the facility with teachers inside, with children inside, and so we are of course demanding that she be released immediately,” 47th Ward Alderman Matt Martin said.

“Schools are supposed to be places of safety, of security and not places where we have to talk to our children about why their teacher is being abducted and screaming and running away from agents with guns and masks while she is trying to enter the school,” parent Tara Goodarzi said.

Parents described the scene with the children, teachers and parents crying. They said they are concerned about what happened and how to talk to their children about what they saw.

More parents and officials are expected to speak later Wednesday about the incident.