Diana Santillana Galeano, a teacher at Rayito de Sol daycare in Chicago, has been released from ICE custody and returned home, her attorneys said. They will continue to pursue her immigration claims and asked for privacy while she recovers. DHS alleges she entered the U.S. in 2023, fled into the daycare after an attempted traffic stop and may have used a smuggler; her attorneys dispute these allegations. A federal judge temporarily barred the government from removing her from the U.S. or transferring her outside Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, and a community fundraiser has raised nearly $160,000.
Chicago Daycare Teacher Diana Santillana Galeano Released from ICE Custody; Legal Fight Continues
Diana Santillana Galeano, a teacher at Rayito de Sol daycare in Chicago, has been released from ICE custody and returned home, her attorneys said. They will continue to pursue her immigration claims and asked for privacy while she recovers. DHS alleges she entered the U.S. in 2023, fled into the daycare after an attempted traffic stop and may have used a smuggler; her attorneys dispute these allegations. A federal judge temporarily barred the government from removing her from the U.S. or transferring her outside Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, and a community fundraiser has raised nearly $160,000.
12:12 AM, 11/14/2025Society
Chicago daycare teacher released from ICE custody
Diana Santillana Galeano, a teacher at Rayito de Sol, a Spanish-language immersion daycare in Chicago, was released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody last week, her attorneys said. She has returned home and her legal team says it will continue to pursue her immigration claims so she can remain in the United States.
Her attorneys, Charlie Wysong and Naiara Testai, thanked the community for its support and asked for privacy while Santillana Galeano rests and recovers from the ordeal.
Her lawyers said she is expected to reunite with members of the Rayito de Sol community on Friday. In a personal statement, Santillana Galeano expressed gratitude to advocates and sympathy for others who have experienced similar trauma. She said she loves the community and the children she teaches and looks forward to returning to her classroom.
Local officials reported that Santillana Galeano was arrested at the daycare; one official characterized the event as an abduction in front of students. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says agents contend she fled into the daycare after an attempted traffic stop and provided a false identity. DHS also alleges she entered the United States in 2023 and may have recently paid a smuggler to bring her children to the country. Those allegations are disputed by her attorneys and have not been proven in court.
The arrest by federal immigration agents at a childcare facility prompted widespread community outrage and a legal response. According to court documents, a federal judge issued a temporary order preventing the federal government from removing Santillana Galeano from the United States or transferring her to federal custody outside Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin while her case proceeds.
Parents and community members rallied behind Santillana Galeano. Erin Horetski, whose child is taught by Santillana Galeano, said she was moved to tears on hearing the news of the teacher's release and praised Santillana's devotion to her students. A GoFundMe organized by community members has raised nearly $160,000 to support Santillana Galeano and her family.
What happens next: Santillana Galeano remains in immigration proceedings. Her attorneys say they will continue to press her claims to remain in the United States. Community leaders continue to call for compassion and transparency in how immigration enforcement is carried out at sensitive locations such as schools and daycare centers.