According to Chicago Public Schools officials, Secret Service agents were turned away Friday at Hamline Elementary while reportedly searching for an 11-year-old who had posted an anti-Trump video online.

The incident at the Back of the Yards neighborhood school initially caused confusion, with some school officials first misidentifying the agents as Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

A Chicago Public School (CPS) source told local media that school staff followed district protocols, keeping the agents outside while contacting district officials. “Teaching and learning continued throughout the day,” CPS spokesperson Mary Ann Fergus said in a statement.

Principal Natasha Ortega praised her staff’s quick thinking. “Due to that, we were able to ensure the safety of our school and all of our students,” she said.

Heightened Tensions Over Deportations

The incident comes amid heightened tensions over immigration enforcement. President Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan recently announced deportation efforts would “start right here in Chicago,” according to media reports.

In response, Chicago Public Schools has reinforced its policy against allowing immigration agents into schools without proper judicial warrants. District officials say they plan to host 25 know-your-rights training sessions for families in coming days.

Hamline Elementary, where district data shows more than 90% of students are Latino and about two-thirds are English learners, found itself unexpectedly at the center of the controversy. The initial misidentification of the agents reflects growing concerns about immigration enforcement in sanctuary cities like Chicago, community leaders say.

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