CHICAGO (AP) — Diana Santillana Galeano, a daycare employee in Chicago, was released from ICE custody after being detained while caring for children at the Rayito de Sol Spanish Immersion Early Learning Center. Her detention occurred on November 5, during a federal immigration enforcement sweep that has seen over 3,000 arrests in the Chicago area since September.
A video showed ICE agents confronting Santillana as children were arriving, an unconventional approach even in the aggressive context of recent immigration raids. After days of community advocacy and legal efforts, her attorney announced her release from detention in Indiana.
We are thrilled that Ms. Santillana was released and is back home where she belongs, said attorney Charlie Wysong. He emphasized the gratitude felt by Santillana and her supporters, urging respect for her privacy as she recovers from the trauma of the ordeal.
In her statement, Santillana expressed thanks to the community for their support, highlighting her dedication to the children she educates and her eagerness to return to them. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Santillana had entered the U.S. illegally in June 2023 but had been granted work authorization under the Biden administration.
