The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a statement today to correct “inaccurate and false reports claiming that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents raided a daycare center in Chicago, Illinois.”

According to the statement, “Diana Patricia Santillana Galeano, an undocumented immigrant from Colombia, was intercepted by the Border Patrol on June 26, 2023, after illegally crossing the southern border, and the Biden administration released her in the United States.”

DHS reported last month that “Galeano allegedly paid smugglers to illegally bring her 17- and 16-year-old children into the United States across the southern border,” and notes in the statement that “facilitating human trafficking is a crime.”

“On October 19, 2025, the two minors, ages 16 and 17, illegally entered the United States near El Paso, Texas. Customs and Border Protection apprehended and processed them as unaccompanied minors, transferring them to a shelter in the Chicago area.”

Among the false claims and real facts that DHS clarifies in its statement They are:

“FALSE CLAIM: DHS agents targeted a school or daycare in Chicago.”

“THE FACTS: ICE targeted an undocumented immigrant, Diana Patricia Santillana Galeano, from Colombia, and attempted to stop her vehicle while it was being driven by another person and Galeano was in the passenger seat. The driver ignored police emergency lights and sirens, and both undocumented immigrants fled the vehicle, attempting to barricade themselves inside the daycare.”

“FALSE CLAIM: ICE made an arrest inside a daycare in Chicago.”

“THE FACTS: The passenger barricaded himself inside the daycare, endangering the children inside. However, Galeano was unable to enter through the second door, which was locked.”

“FALSE CLAIM: ICE arrested the undocumented immigrant in front of the children.”

“THE FACTS: ICE did NOT arrest her in front of the children.”

“FALSE STATEMENT: Diana Patricia Santillana Galeano was legally in the country with work authorization.”

“THE FACTS: Work authorization does NOT grant any type of legal status to be in the US The undocumented immigrant's work authorization was approved by the Biden administration, which took advantage of this loophole to facilitate illegal entry into our country.”

“ICE agents were NOT targeting a daycare center. They attempted to conduct a targeted traffic stop of this undocumented woman from Colombia. They attempted to stop the vehicle, registered to an undocumented woman, with sirens and emergency lights activated, but the driver refused to stop. Agents pursued the vehicle until the aggressor accelerated toward a shopping center, where he and the passenger fled. They ran into a daycare center and attempted to barricade themselves inside, seriously endangering the children. The undocumented woman was arrested in the lobby, not “inside the daycare,” stated Under Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. "When arrested, she lied about her identity. The vehicle is registered in her name, although she claims she did not know the man driving her and that she had just picked him up at a bus stop. Details, including information on criminal history and the assailant, will be released soon, and we will update the public as soon as this information becomes available," McLaughlin concluded. Details, including information on the assailant's criminal record, will be released soon, and we will update the public as soon as this information becomes available," McLaughlin concluded. Details, including information on the assailant's criminal record, will be released soon, and we will update the public as soon as this information becomes available,” McLaughlin concluded.and we will update the public as soon as this information becomes available,” McLaughlin concluded. Details, including information on the assailant's criminal record, will be released soon, and we will update the public as soon as this information becomes available,” McLaughlin concluded. Details, including information on the assailant's criminal record, will be released soon, and we will update the public as soon as this information becomes available,” McLaughlin concluded.and we will update the public as soon as this information becomes available,” McLaughlin concluded. Details, including information on the assailant's criminal record, will be released soon, and we will update the public as soon as this information becomes available,” McLaughlin concluded. Details, including information on the assailant's criminal record, will be released soon, and we will update the public as soon as this information becomes available,” McLaughlin concluded.