CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago day care center worker, Diana Santillana Galeano, has been released after her recent detention by immigration agents. Her case has garnered significant attention after video footage surfaced showing officers detaining her as children arrived for care at Rayito de Sol Spanish Immersion Early Learning Center.
On November 5, Santillana was taken into custody, causing an outpouring of support from community members. She was released on Wednesday night from a detention center in Indiana. We are thrilled that Ms. Santillana was released, and she has been able to return home to Chicago where she belongs, stated her attorney, Charlie Wysong.
In a statement, Santillana expressed her thanks to the community for their overwhelming support during her ordeal. I love our community and the children I teach, and I can’t wait to see them again, she shared.
As Santillana's case unfolded, it highlighted the increased enforcement tactics under the previous administration, particularly during ‘Operation Midway Blitz,’ which has led to thousands of immigration arrests in the Chicago area. While the Department of Homeland Security insists that day care centers are not being targeted, such detentions create a climate of fear and uncertainty within immigrant communities.
With her future now in limbo due to her immigration status, Santillana's legal team plans to pursue avenues for her to remain in the United States legally. Her case serves as a stark reminder of the human impact behind statistical figures of immigration enforcement.
