Fear and confusion over false ICE reports
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Mistaken reports from CPS about immigration agents at a Back of the Yards school Friday have raised fear in the community and questions about why they took so long to clear up.
Why it matters: The incident happened at a time when schools were on high alert from President Trump's new rules allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to enter schools and churches.
- Despite CPS later clarifying that the federal officials who were denied entry to Hamline Elementary on Friday were from the Secret Service and not ICE, the incident, which exploded into a national story, could increase fear in schools across the country.
Catch up quick: At around 2pm Friday, CPS officials held a press conference at the South Side school announcing that they had denied entry to ICE agents at around 11:15am.
- At 2:50pm ICE representatives confirmed to Axios that the agency was not involved.
- By 4pm U.S. Secret Service officials confirmed to the press that it was their agents at the school investigating a threat issued against "a government official we protect."
- By 7pm CPS issued a statement acknowledging the "misunderstanding," saying it stemmed from the agents' badges from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees both ICE and the Secret Service.
Friction point: A Secret Service spokesperson says the "agents identified themselves to the school principal and provided business cards with their contact information."
- But the district says Hamline personnel don't recall receiving business cards and officials first learned of ICE's denial through media reports.
- The Secret Service says it cannot comment on its threat investigation.
The big picture: When asked about letting ICE into schools, Vice President JD Vance said on Sunday's "Face the Nation," that he supports "us doing law enforcement against violent criminals, whether they're illegal immigrants or anybody else" and it allows "law enforcement to enforce the law everywhere."
Yes, but: Chicago Police officials say under local rules, CPD officers can already "enforce the law if a crime occurs, regardless of the citizenship status of those involved."
- Last week Gov. JB Pritzker said those "who have been convicted of violent crimes who are undocumented, they are supposed to be deported. ... I don't want them in my state."
Reality check: Despite Trump's promises of accelerated deportations, those haven't yet emerged.
- On Thursday DHS announced it had deported 575 people, while President Biden's administration averaged 700 deportations a day in 2024, Vox reports.
What we're watching: ICE and other federal agencies were in Chicago Sunday "conducting enhanced targeted operations," the agency said in a statement.
- ICE wouldn't say how many people were detained in Chicago, the Tribune reported.