Fearmongering over President Donald Trump’s mass deportations found officials in one so-called “sanctuary city” pushing a hoax involving school kids.
“Literally none of this was true.”
(Video: ABC 7 Chicago)
Throughout the first week under the new administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had reported hundreds of arrests and detainers of illegal aliens. While ICE made clear their focus was on “known criminal aliens” posing a threat to “national security or public safety,” Chicago Public Schools peddled a readily debunked claim that Trump was coming for children.
A press conference had been held outside John H. Hamline Elementary where CPS Chief Education Officer Bogdana Chkoumbova had claimed ICE agents “were not allowed into the school and were not permitted to speak to any students or staff members.”
Likewise, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) had posted on X, “After a week of Republicans sowing fear and chaos, the first reports of raids in Chicago are at an elementary school. Targeting children and separating families is cruel and un-American.”

Similarly, the Chicago Tribune’s Nell Salzman had “confirmed” with CPS that ICE agents had visited the school and posted an interview with a sobbing woman who’d said, “It makes me so sad.”
However, Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin was among those clearing up the claim as he shared Salzman’s post and reported, “Literally none of this was true.”
Literally none of this was true. https://t.co/GEQLTputDD
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) January 24, 2025
Elaborating on the story, Melugin detailed, “Chicago Public Schools falsely claimed they blocked ICE officers from entering a school today. The narrative took off — but apparently nobody bothered to check with DHS or ICE, which both denied the claim that ICE was at/near a school. Turns out — it was Secret Service agents.”
Fox 32’s Paris Schutz noted, “I should add the Secret Service Spokesman tells me the agent left their business card with school officials. Not sure how wires got crossed where CPS officials all the way up to the CEO reported that the incident involved ICE.”
According to reporting from ABC 7 Chicago, the Secret Service agents’ business cards detailed they were with the Department of Homeland Security, leading CPS officials to connect their own dots to deportation efforts.
As Melugin stated, “CPS reportedly knew it was [Secret] Service, but pushed it as ICE.”
Chicago Public Schools falsely claimed they blocked ICE officers from entering a school today. The narrative took off – but apparently nobody bothered to check with DHS or ICE, which both denied the claim that ICE was at/near a school.
Turns out – it was Secret Service agents. pic.twitter.com/shZX9857rE
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) January 24, 2025
CPS reportedly knew it was Secretly Service, but pushed it as ICE. https://t.co/E1jSCZJvtj
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) January 24, 2025
In their own statements on the incident, an ICE spokesperson had said, “This was not a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement encounter,” while the Secret Service remarked that agents had been investigating an alleged threat to an individual under their protection related to the TikTok ban, “The Secret Service investigates all threats made against those we protect, we do not investigate nor enforce immigration laws.”
Having had their claim summarily debunked, CBS stated, “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.”
Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) remarked, “We understand that many are rightfully feeling scared at the moment. Chicago remains a Welcoming City, dedicated to protecting every resident. Today, Secret Service, not ICE, were at John H. Hamline Elementary.”
“While people across the city are worried about heightened immigration enforcement, it is imperative that individuals not spread unverified information that sparks fear across the city,” he added, having vowed to oppose Trump’s deportation efforts.
We understand that many are rightfully feeling scared at the moment. Chicago remains a Welcoming City, dedicated to protecting every resident. Today, Secret Service, not ICE, were at John H. Hamline Elementary. Visit https://t.co/oWYxHauO02 for trusted information and resources. pic.twitter.com/awcWYQ0Bw0
— Mayor Brandon Johnson (@ChicagosMayor) January 25, 2025
Alderman Raymond Lopez (D), who continued to take heat for criticizing the city’s decision to protect illegal aliens, saw fit to unload on X as he said, “Chicago was punk’d, traumatizing an entire community in order to give political hacks, wanna-be’s & the advocacy group complex a performative photo op standing up to Trump. There aren’t enough adjectives in a thesaurus to describe how terrible these folks are.”
Chicago was punk’d, traumatizing an entire community in order to give political hacks, wanna-be’s & the advocacy group complex a performative photo op standing up to Trump. There aren’t enough adjectives in a thesaurus to describe how terrible these folks are.
— Ald. Raymond Lopez (@RaymondALopez) January 24, 2025
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