A Chicago day care employee, whose detention by immigration agents sparked significant community backlash, has been released from custody, her legal team has confirmed.
Detention at Day Care Centre Causes Alarm
Diana Santillana Galeano was taken into custody on November 5 at the Rayito de Sol Spanish Immersion Early Learning Center located on Chicago's north side. The arrest occurred as children were being dropped off, and a video from the scene depicted officers struggling with her as they exited the building.
Her attorneys announced that she was freed from an immigration detention centre in Indiana on Wednesday night, just over a week after her initial detention.
Legal Battle and Community Response
In a statement, her attorney, Charlie Wysong, expressed relief at her release. "We are thrilled that Ms. Santillana was released, and has been able to return home to Chicago where she belongs," Wysong said. He confirmed that they will continue to pursue her immigration claims to remain in the United States.
The statement also extended gratitude for the "outpouring of support" from the community during the ordeal and requested privacy for Santillana Galeano as she recovers.
Santillana Galeano herself commented, saying, "I am so grateful to everyone who has advocated on my behalf, and on behalf of the countless others who have experienced similar trauma over recent months in the Chicago area. I love our community and the children I teach, and I can’t wait to see them again."
Broader Immigration Enforcement Context
This incident highlights the increasingly aggressive enforcement tactics associated with the Trump administration. However, the decision to detain someone at a day care facility is considered unusual, even under the umbrella of 'Operation Midway Blitz'.
This specific operation has led to more than 3,000 immigration arrests in the Chicago area since early September. Tactics employed have included agents rappelling from a Black Hawk helicopter during a night-time apartment raid and using overwhelming force in recreational areas, with tear gas being deployed amid protests.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Santillana Galeano, who is from Colombia, entered the U.S. illegally in June 2023 but had subsequently obtained authorisation to work under the Biden administration. The department denied specifically targeting the day care centre for enforcement action.
