A Chicago-area elementary school teacher was placed on administrative leave after a brief Facebook post expressing ICE support triggered organized backlash from activists and elected officials. The dispute has raised questions about free speech, school policy, and how districts respond to political pressure tied to immigration enforcement.
The teacher at Gary Elementary School in West Chicago posted “GO ICE” on Facebook last week. Activists in the predominantly Hispanic community quickly circulated screenshots and called for disciplinary action. One social media post responded, “Imagine working as a teacher in an elementary school in West Chicago where the Latino community is highly populated and promoting ICE, sick AF.” Another commenter called the teacher a “[expletive] piece of [expletive].”
Activists distributed a flyer online alongside a Change.org petition demanding termination and urging parents to keep students home. The flyer stated that “the casual way in which he publicly promoted the actions of ICE in our area is inappropriate and unsuitable for an educator.” It added, “The best way to show our district that we need action to be taken – is to show them that keeping this teacher will disrupt the emotional welfare and therefore, the education of our students.”
Illinois State Senator Karina Villa said she stands in “unwavering solidarity” with families upset by the “disturbing comments reportedly made by an educator,” while acknowledging that free speech is a “protected right.”
District Superintendent Kristina Davis told parents that “the employee submitted a written resignation” before withdrawing it. After a Monday meeting, the district confirmed the teacher was placed on leave pending investigation, citing a “disruptive social media comment.” District officials declined to specify what policy was violated by the ICE support post.
