The arrest of an illegal migrant outside a Chicago school sparked protests and political backlash this week—until Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revealed that the suspect is a violent gang member with a lengthy criminal record.
Outrage Over School-Side Arrest
On Wednesday, ICE agents arrested Francisco Andrade-Berrera, a 37-year-old Mexican national, near a Southside Chicago school while he was dropping off students. Activists and local leaders swiftly condemned the arrest, holding a rally denouncing ICE’s actions.
Video footage obtained by Fox News shows two ICE agents handcuffing Andrade-Berrera near the school. In response, two nearby schools activated “Community Wellness Protocols,” offering social work support to help students process the “stressful and upsetting” event.
Political Backlash Before Facts Surface
During the rally, Chicago Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez questioned the city’s role in protecting families from ICE enforcement.
“When parents are being grabbed from our schools, we must ask, what is Chicago Public Schools doing to protect our children?” he said.
Hilario Dominguez of the Chicago Teachers Union took it further, blaming former President Donald Trump:
“His children watched as their daddy was put in handcuffs by agents carrying out the orders of a tyrant president,” he claimed.
ICE Confirms Andrade-Berrera’s Gang Ties
However, as emotions ran high, ICE revealed Andrade-Berrera’s violent gang affiliations and criminal past:
- Convictions for drug trafficking, gang loitering, and property damage
- Previously removed from the U.S. twice (2005 and 2013)
- Pleaded guilty in 2023 to purchasing five ounces of cocaine for resale
Despite his criminal background, Andrade-Berrera had described himself as a family man in a letter to a judge, expressing regret for his past actions and sharing his aspirations of opening a restaurant.
False Claims About ICE Entering Schools
Following the arrest, Chicago Public Schools assured the public that ICE never entered the school grounds. The two students in the vehicle were safely escorted to class, and authorities did not attempt to detain anyone at Victoria Soto High School or Jovita Idar Elementary.
This incident follows a similar case last month, when false reports suggested ICE agents had raided a different Chicago school—claims that were later debunked.
Critics Accuse Local Leaders of Political Agenda
Former Riverside, Illinois Police Chief Tom Weitzel criticized the political reaction, accusing local leaders of using the arrest to push an anti-ICE narrative:
“They’re making ICE out to be the boogeyman, claiming they’re storming schools and ripping parents from their children. That simply isn’t true. ICE has never forcibly removed anyone from a school in the U.S.”
As immigration enforcement continues to be a contentious issue in sanctuary cities like Chicago, this case highlights the tension between local activism and federal law enforcement efforts.