Child Care Workers Are Building A Network Of Resistance Against ICE

ICE agents arrested a Chicago mother as she picked up her daughters from school, creating a distressing situation for the children. Child care provider Sandra had prepared families for the possibility of such detentions, ensuring they had temporary guardianship plans in place. When Sandra arrived at the school, the girls immediately sensed something was wrong and feared they might never see their mother again. Following the arrest, Sandra coordinated with the mother’s sister to arrange for the girls to travel to Texas, where their mother is detained. This incident reflects a broader trend of child care workers stepping up to support immigrant families facing uncertainty due to increased immigration raids.

Approximately 1 in 5 child care workers are immigrant women who also risk detention. Advocates argue that the child care and immigration movements are intertwined, as disruptions in child care affect community stability. The situation raises significant concerns about the well-being of children left behind when parents are detained.