Leftist outrage hit a West Chicago elementary school as a teacher’s two-word message in support of federal immigration enforcement landed him on administrative leave and under investigation.
(Video Credit: ABC 7 Chicago)
Putting activism before education has found parents and public officials alike in an uproar over one Gary Elementary School teacher’s voiced support for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Now on leave, it appeared locals are ready for a more permanent impact as they showed up to protest and kept kids from classrooms over a post that read, “Go ICE.”
According to ABC 7 Chicago, the teacher reacted to an article about ICE with his simple message. In response, members of the community with a large Hispanic population planned to keep kids out of school on Monday, set up a petition, and show up to the meeting at the West Chicago City Council chambers to voice outrage.
“Where is the due process for all the people that are being kidnapped on the streets?” said one protester, while Illinois state Sen. Karina Villa (D) told ABC 7, “You have many, many students across District 33 who did not go to school today because of fear. Fear incited by a teacher.”
While West Chicago Mayor Daniel Bovey catered to anti-ICE activists by inviting them to the forum, Superintendent Kristina Davis released a statement detailing, “On Thursday, January 22, 2026, the District learned of concerns regarding a disruptive social media comment made by a District employee on his personal account. The teacher initially submitted his resignation. Later that day, he withdrew his resignation before the Board had an opportunity to take action.”
“Following a meeting with District administration today, the employee involved has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation and will not be permitted on any District property while on leave,” Davis went on. “We understand that this situation has raised concerns and caused disruption for students, families, and staff. We want to ensure our schools are safe spaces, and we look forward to seeing all students back in school tomorrow. Thank you for your patience, trust, and partnership during the ongoing investigation.”
Worth noting, while West Chicago has been a focus of federal immigration enforcement operations, and the community has seen fit to pull students from classrooms in protest, only 22% of the K-5 students at Gary Elementary are counted as being at or above proficiency in math for their level and only 12% are at or above their level for reading according to U.S. News.
That data found it ranked 1396 out of 1893 schools in the state, with a roughly 82% Hispanic population.
Support for the teacher and ICE flooded the comments of the petition and the school district’s social media with many simply echoing “GO ICE!!!” while one pointed out, “It shouldn’t be a problem if you are in the USA legally. I support all law enforcement, and the majority of Americans are with me. Only dimwit communists want to cancel this guy. I hope he sues the pants off the school district.”
Good for this teacher. He may never see the inside of a classroom again.
But he’s gonna see a seven or eight figure settlement for the violation of his civil rights.
All because people didn’t come here legally.
— Political Poetry (@FlyinBrianD) January 27, 2026
Sounds @AAGDhillon needs to keep a eye on this school
— angi (@septembermoonaj) January 27, 2026
Amazing. And nothing happens to the vile Marxists in CPS who call everyone they disagree with Nazis, spread propaganda, insult half the country, demonize police and federal law enforcement officers…
— Nilam Civok (@CivokNilam) January 27, 2026
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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