Chicago Daycare Raid: A Family's Trauma at the Hands of Immigration Agents
A morning drop-off at a Chicago daycare center turned into a nightmare when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents raided the facility, dragging out a 39-year-old Spanish teacher with her arms behind her back. The incident was captured on video, showing the teacher pleading for papers while being pushed towards a car.
For Adam Gonzalez, who witnessed the scene unfold alongside his 17-month-old son, it's a traumatic experience that he still struggles to process. "It was beyond traumatic," he said in an interview. "It's been less than a week, but I still have moments where I relive what I saw, and I can hear the crying." Gonzalez recorded the incident as a lawyer and volunteer with rapid-response work, knowing not to antagonize the agents while keeping his child close.
Gonzalez's experience is part of a broader trend of ICE raids across the United States, aimed at targeting undocumented immigrants. These enforcement tactics have been criticized for their aggression and impact on communities. In one instance, a father was arrested in Los Angeles with his toddler in tow, drawing guns as agents conducted a raid on an apartment building.
The parents at Rayito de Sol Spanish Immersion Early Learning Center are still reeling from the aftermath of the raid. Many have opted not to send their children back to daycare, citing fear for their safety. "It was just a gut punch that this place that was so safe for us, that was so much a community, so much a family, and that day it was taken away from us," Gonzalez said.
Childcare workers like Alice Dreyden are witnessing firsthand the effects of ICE raids on young children. She reports that several families have left their homes due to fear of being targeted by ICE, disrupting routines and affecting stability for the children. "Kids pick up on all of that. They may not understand the details, but they absolutely understand that the adults are afraid and things aren't safe," Dreyden said.
Experts warn that exposure to frightening events, such as witnessing a parent being handcuffed, can be particularly traumatic for young children. Dr. Carla Marie Manly, a psychologist based in California, notes that early childhood is a formative period, and being exposed to hostile or fear-inducing environments can have lasting effects.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage among parents, childcare workers, and community leaders. Erma Jackson, who runs a home childcare center in Chicago, says the mere presence of ICE agents is affecting children's safety and well-being. "When they see that fear, they become afraid," she said.
As Gonzalez struggles to move forward with his son, he knows he's not alone. Across Chicago, parents are making difficult decisions every day about whether to send their children to school or stay home out of fear of ICE raids. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of these enforcement tactics and the need for a more compassionate approach to immigration policy.
A morning drop-off at a Chicago daycare center turned into a nightmare when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents raided the facility, dragging out a 39-year-old Spanish teacher with her arms behind her back. The incident was captured on video, showing the teacher pleading for papers while being pushed towards a car.
For Adam Gonzalez, who witnessed the scene unfold alongside his 17-month-old son, it's a traumatic experience that he still struggles to process. "It was beyond traumatic," he said in an interview. "It's been less than a week, but I still have moments where I relive what I saw, and I can hear the crying." Gonzalez recorded the incident as a lawyer and volunteer with rapid-response work, knowing not to antagonize the agents while keeping his child close.
Gonzalez's experience is part of a broader trend of ICE raids across the United States, aimed at targeting undocumented immigrants. These enforcement tactics have been criticized for their aggression and impact on communities. In one instance, a father was arrested in Los Angeles with his toddler in tow, drawing guns as agents conducted a raid on an apartment building.
The parents at Rayito de Sol Spanish Immersion Early Learning Center are still reeling from the aftermath of the raid. Many have opted not to send their children back to daycare, citing fear for their safety. "It was just a gut punch that this place that was so safe for us, that was so much a community, so much a family, and that day it was taken away from us," Gonzalez said.
Childcare workers like Alice Dreyden are witnessing firsthand the effects of ICE raids on young children. She reports that several families have left their homes due to fear of being targeted by ICE, disrupting routines and affecting stability for the children. "Kids pick up on all of that. They may not understand the details, but they absolutely understand that the adults are afraid and things aren't safe," Dreyden said.
Experts warn that exposure to frightening events, such as witnessing a parent being handcuffed, can be particularly traumatic for young children. Dr. Carla Marie Manly, a psychologist based in California, notes that early childhood is a formative period, and being exposed to hostile or fear-inducing environments can have lasting effects.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage among parents, childcare workers, and community leaders. Erma Jackson, who runs a home childcare center in Chicago, says the mere presence of ICE agents is affecting children's safety and well-being. "When they see that fear, they become afraid," she said.
As Gonzalez struggles to move forward with his son, he knows he's not alone. Across Chicago, parents are making difficult decisions every day about whether to send their children to school or stay home out of fear of ICE raids. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of these enforcement tactics and the need for a more compassionate approach to immigration policy.
, I'm literally shaking thinking about those innocent kids who witnessed such trauma 
! Like, what's up with these ICE agents? Can't they see they're hurting families and communities? 
The fact that parents are being forced to choose between their jobs and keeping their little ones safe is just heartbreaking 
. We need to talk about this ASAP and make some real change 
. ICE raids are NOT the answer, we need more empathy and understanding 
. Let's stand with these families and fight for a safer, more compassionate society 
#ICEraidsAreNotTheAnswer #ImmigrationMatters #TraumaAwareness #CompassionInAction
watching this video is like my worst nightmare come true, i feel so bad for that family & all the parents who have kids in those daycare centers...ICE agents are supposed to be protecting us, not traumatizing our little ones. 
it's like they're playing with people's lives & futures.
. I mean, can you even imagine having to record your child crying while witnessing something so traumatic? The worst part is how these raids are affecting not just the families but also the kids themselves 
. We need to do better, folks! ICE needs to take a more humane approach to immigration policies 
This whole thing is super messed up... I mean, who do we think we are to just drag some lady away like that? 
ICE needs to rethink its approach here, it's not just about deporting people, it's about our humanity. We're all humans, after all... 
This is absolutely horrific what happened at that daycare center. I can only imagine how traumatized Adam Gonzalez must be, seeing his 17-month-old son's tiny face in that situation. It's just so unfair that ICE had to go and ruin an entire community's sense of safety for one person's undocumented status... 