Day care teacher detained by immigration agents on Northwest Side, video shows

A day care teacher was detained by federal immigration officers Wednesday morning on the Northwest Side, a video shows.

Video captured two agents pulling the woman out of Rayito de Sol Spanish Immersion Early Learning Center at 2550 W. Addison St. around 7 a.m.

The woman, known as "Ms. Diana" to parents and children, is heard in the recording telling an agent that she has documentation, but she was still detained.

Ms. Diana had been stepping out of the passenger seat of a car when she was approached by agents and she ran inside the daycare center. The agents followed her inside before forcing her outside and putting her into another vehicle, according to Ald. Matt Martin (47th).

Martin arrived to the center around 8 a.m. and was told by other teachers that armed agents entered the center without a warrant. He said one agent stepped inside and looked through all of the rooms despite being asked by staff to leave.

Martin said children were inside the daycare center at the time of the arrest.

"It’s important to understand that daycare centers and schools are precious spaces across our city," said Martin. "They educate and nurture our children. What ICE did today was shatter that sense of safety that educators and parents at Rayito del Sol have worked to create."

Martin said other teachers tried to show agents proof of Ms. Diana's documentation, but she was still taken away.

The center closed for the day as the arrest left shock among parents and fear among teachers.

Sarah Wirth, a parent whose son goes to the daycare center, said the center focuses on teaching kids Spanish and most teachers are South American and must have documentation to work there.

Wirth wasn't present at the time of the arrest, but said she watched videos and felt "helpless."

"You would think if someone has papers, they would want to see that, and there might be a peaceful resolution," she said. "But instead, you see this woman who takes care of children for a living getting ripped out of her workplace."

A spokesperson for the learning center did not immediately return calls for comment.

The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

Martin said Ms. Diana's family was notified of the arrest and they were put in contact with an immigration attorney.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.