5Chicago - ICE agents ‘showed up' at Chicago school amid heightened concerns of raids

Schools across the Chicago area have released guidance about potential situations after the Trump Administration revoked previous guidance prohibiting immigration arrests at schools, churches and hospitals

By NBC Chicago Staff and Vi Nguyen • Published 26 mins ago • Updated 19 mins ago

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were seen at a Chicago school 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 have been present at Hamline School in Chicago's Back of the Yards neighborhood, though the agents did not detain anyone and left the premises shortly after.

"Earlier today, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents showed up at Hamline Elementary School," Chief Education Officer Bogdana Chkoumbova said during a press conference at the school. "School staff followed CPS established protocols. They kept ICE agents outside of the school and contacted CPS law department and CPS Office of Safety and Security for further guidance. The ICE agents were not allowed into the school and were not permitted to speak to any students or staff members. Here is the bottom line, our students and staff are safe. Our protocols were followed."

Rapid Response Team members with the nonprofit group Increase the Peace also responded to the scene.

The school's principal said the school will not open its doors for ICE unnecessarily.

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