Suburban college student taken into custody by federal immigration agents, school says

College student taken into custody by immigration agents

A student at Elgin Community College was detained by immigration authorities this morning.

ELGIN, Ill. - A student at Elgin Community College was taken into custody Thursday morning by federal immigration agents, the school confirmed.

What we know:

ECC said the student was detained in a parking lot outside a building on its main campus, and they described the apprehension as an "isolated incident."

"ECC does not engage in immigration enforcement and does not voluntarily share information about students’ immigration status," the school said in a post on Facebook.

What we don't know:

The identity of the student detained has not been shared by federal authorities or the school. It is also unclear at this point why they were taken into custody.

"Our focus remains on supporting our students and maintaining a safe, welcoming learning environment," ECC said in the post. "Additionally, we are in communication with local legislators and community leaders regarding this incident."

The backstory:

The detention comes days after federal officials expanded immigration operations in the Chicago area.

Border Patrol agents announced "Operation At Large" this week, while ICE launched "Operation Midway Blitz" last week, resulting in at least 13 arrests of undocumented immigrants who the Department of Homeland Security described as the "worst of the worst."

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The Trump administration has increased federal immigration enforcement in major U.S. cities, including Chicago, where officials say their operations are targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal records. Gov. JB Pritzker and other state leaders have criticized the moves, saying they spread fear among immigrant communities.

Meanwhile, pushback continues in Chicago. Mayor Brandon Johnson recently signed an executive order protecting the right to protest against immigration enforcement in the city.

What they're saying:

We are deeply troubled by reports that a student was detained by ICE in the parking lot of Elgin Community College. Schools, hospitals, and houses of worship must remain safe sanctuaries where people can learn, heal, and gather without fear. This has long been recognized in law and practice. Actions that violate these principles put students, families, and entire communities at risk," said Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery. 

Dan Kernler, President of the Elgin Community College Faculty Association, representing educators in the impacted community, said, "Our campus community is in shock today. College students and their families should never be separated just because they came to class. Detaining students on campus creates lasting harm and has no place in our communities. Learning and growth can only happen without fear."

"Schools must be places of learning and belonging, not fear. Targeting families near schools undermines everything educators stand for and inflicts lasting trauma on children. We stand with our Illinois colleagues and immigrant communities across the country in demanding that schools remain off-limits," said Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers.

In a joint statement, Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, and Elgin Community College Faculty Association (ECCFA) President Dan Kernler said, "We call on ICE to immediately stop targeting these protected spaces and urge lawmakers and leaders to restore and uphold sanctuary protections. This is the result of the Trump administration’s decision to end a longstanding bipartisan policy on "sensitive locations." By abandoning this safeguard, the federal government has shown it no longer cares to keep places of worship, hospitals, and schools free from needless paramilitary intrusion. Shame on this administration for putting politics above people. This dangerous theater must end now."