Immigrant Families in Chicago Live in Fear as ICE Raids Intensify

On November 5th, 2025, a daycare teacher in Chicago's Roscoe Village neighborhood was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in front of children, coworkers, and parents during morning drop-off. The incident, which was captured on video, showed the teacher being pushed against a car as she pleaded that she had papers.

The traumatic event has had a profound impact on the local immigrant community. Parents are now faced with the difficult decision of whether to send their children to school, fearing that ICE agents may be lurking outside. One local childcare worker, Alice Dreyden, has seen several families withdraw their children from her Head Start center due to safety concerns.

The fear and anxiety caused by the ICE raids are taking a toll on young children as well. Dreyden has observed toddlers becoming visibly nervous and jumpy, a stark contrast to their previous carefree behavior. Experts warn that exposure to such "hostile" and "fear-inducing" events can have lasting developmental consequences for children.

As the immigrant community in Chicago grapples with the aftermath of the daycare incident, the broader impact of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown continues to reverberate. Families are forced to make impossible choices between providing for their children and ensuring their safety, a situation that is deeply troubling and unjust.