Arrest Of Daycare Worker At Preschool Violated Consent Decree, Attorneys Say

Attorneys are challenging the warrantless arrest of daycare teacher Diana Patricia Santillana Galeano, claiming it violates a 2022 consent decree that restricts such actions by ICE agents. Santillana Galeano was arrested without a warrant while arriving at Rayito de Sol daycare in North Center, where she works as an infant educator. Her legal team filed a habeas corpus petition in the U. S. District Court in Chicago, seeking her immediate release or a bond hearing to assess her flight risk.

They argue that detaining her without due process violates her constitutional rights. Santillana Galeano fled Colombia in March 2023 due to threats to her safety and has filed for asylum, receiving employment authorization through 2029. Community reactions have been strong, with parents describing the incident as traumatizing for the children involved. A GoFundMe campaign to support her legal fees has raised over $130,000. The case is set for a federal court hearing next week, emphasizing the ongoing concerns surrounding immigration enforcement practices in the region.