Two criminal illegal aliens were arrested Thursday after they led law enforcement on a high-speed chase before fleeing into a high school in the Chicago suburb of Gurnee. The two Mexican nationals, both with long criminal records, attempted to use Warren Township High School’s O’Plaine Campus as a sanctuary, hoping that Illinois’ lenient immigration policies would shield them from federal authorities.
According to law enforcement, the chase lasted ten minutes and resulted in several vehicle crashes before the suspects abandoned their car and ran into the school, where students were present. The suspects’ entry caused momentary panic, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents following close behind. School officials later confirmed that there was brief physical contact between one of the suspects and a student exiting the building as ICE agents moved in.
District Superintendent Daniel Woestman acknowledged the concern among parents and stated that he voiced his concerns to federal agents after the incident. While some criticized the presence of ICE on school grounds, the Department of Homeland Security made it clear that the real danger came from the two men who deliberately chose to put students and staff at risk.
“These two criminal illegal aliens recklessly endangered the public,” DHS said in a statement. “They drove onto school grounds, possibly seeking protection in what they believed to be an ‘ICE-Free Zone.’” The agency emphasized that although enforcement actions near schools are generally avoided, public safety takes precedence when criminals endanger lives.
Customs and Border Protection later revealed the men had prior convictions for domestic assault, drug offenses, and kidnapping. Their arrests came just days after Illinois Democrat Governor JB Pritzker requested ICE and DHS to halt immigration actions on Halloween to avoid frightening children—a request DHS rejected outright.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem dismissed the governor’s appeal as irresponsible, saying, “We’re absolutely not willing to put on pause any work that we will do to keep communities safe.” Noem further emphasized that removing violent criminals from the streets is exactly how government protects children, especially during events like Halloween.
The incident highlights the growing conflict between federal immigration enforcement and state-level sanctuary policies. It also raises serious concerns about the safety implications of offering sanctuary protections to criminals with violent records.
