Ice Agents ‘appeared’ at Chicago School amid heightened concerns – NBC Chicago

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were seen at a Chicago school on Friday afternoon, hours after a Trump administration official confirmed that Illinois was among several states where hundreds of arrests had previously been made.

According to Chicago Public Schools’ chief education officer, ICE agents were confirmed to be present at the Hamline School in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood, although the agents did not detain anyone and left the premises shortly thereafter.

“Earlier today, Immigration and Customs Enforcement showed up at Hamline Elementary School,” Chief Education Officer Bogdana Chkoumbova said during a news conference at the school. “School staff followed CPS-established protocols. They kept ICE agents outside the school and contacted the CPS Legal Department and the CPS Office of Security for further guidance. The ICE agents were not allowed into the school and were not allowed to speak with students or staff . Our students and staff are safe here.

Members of the rapid response team with the nonprofit group are also increasing peace on the scene.

The principal said the school would not open its doors unnecessarily to ice cream.

“I am very grateful to all of our Hamline staff here for maintaining all of our protocols and ensuring the safety of our students. We will not open our doors to ice cream and we are here to protect our children and ensure that they Have access to access to ice An excellent education.

The incident comes amid heightened concerns in migrant hubs across Chicago, although there has been no confirmation of any raids so far.

Chicago-area schools have released guidance on potential situations after the Trump administration revoked previous guidance banning immigration arrests at schools, churches and hospitals.

Trump came into office promising to carry out deportation operations and other anti-immigration proposals.

Tom Homan, expected to become Trump’s border czar, has vowed to “crush” roadblocks by state law enforcement and said he plans to conduct deportation operations in Chicago and Illinois.

According to an NBC News report and a person familiar with the planning, reports from Trump’s inauguration before Trump’s inauguration first surfaced the weekend before Trump’s inauguration. The person, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the operation, said multiple locations in Chicago are being targeted.

Although Chicago Public Schools did not immediately confirm school attendance in Hamlin, the district released a message to families earlier this week saying it planned to “maintain its current policies and procedures to support students, staff and theirs.” “Actively protect families”.

“As CPS continues to receive more information regarding federal policy changes, CPS will continue to review our own protocols and we will continue to advise appropriate school-based staff on how to best protect our students, staff, families and school communities,” the district said in a statement as he shared his policies and guidelines.

Meanwhile, a Trump Administration official confirmed to NBC News that ice arrests were taking place across the U.S., including in Illinois, Utah, California, Minnesota, New York, Florida and Maryland. Chicago was among the specific cities noted by the official as having confirmed arrests.

According to this official, ICE made 538 arrests – 373 criminal arrests and 165 non-criminal arrests – across the US on Thursday.

NBC Chicago has not independently confirmed whether any arrests have taken place in Chicago and, if so, where.