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An elementary school in Chicago was thrown into fear and confusion on Friday when district officials mistook Secret Service agents for officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Chicago Public Schools initially put out a public statement that identified two federal agents who went to Hamline Elementary School as officers from ICE, which earlier this week was given the green light to make arrests at schools, places of worships, hospitals and other “sensitive” locations in a reversal of a long-standing policy.
The agents, however, were Secret Service personnel “investigating a threat to one of our protectees in reference to the recent TikTok ban,” the agency said in a statement. The agents identified themselves to the school principal and left without incident, the agency said, adding that it does not “investigate nor enforce immigration laws.”
The agents were not granted entry to the school. CPS said its officials “followed the established protocols to ensure student safety” and contacted Chicago Public Schools’ Law Department and Office of Safety and Security.
“While this was a misunderstanding in terms of the specific branch of DHS, the school’s response demonstrates that our system, in partnership with community organizations, is prepared and ready to keep our students and staff safe,” the school district said.
In a post on X, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson cautioned against sharing unverified rumors, writing, “While people across the city are worried about heightened immigration enforcement, it is imperative that individuals not spread unverified information that sparks fear.”
The incident is reflective of the climate of fear permeating communities across the country as Trump readies federal authorities to carry out his plans for mass deportations. Since Trump took office, ICE has begun announcing on social media the number of daily arrests it says it has carried out. The agency has also conducted immigration raids in several cities that have reportedly ensnared U.S. citizens as well.
More than 90% of students at Hamline Elementary are Hispanic, according to public school data. The Washington Post interviewed a 10-year-old girl who recalled hiding in a classroom as the principal ordered a lockdown over the loudspeakers during the incident.
“Everyone was so scared,” the 10-year-old, who was granted anonymity to protect her safety, told the Post, “because we didn’t know if it was a shooter or the immigration police.”