Families and staff across Illinois Head Start and Early Head Start programs are sharing how increased enforcement activity in their communities affects daily life.
These stories focus on real experiences—attendance challenges, changes in family engagement, stress on children, and the extra work programs do to support families. Identifying details have been removed to protect privacy.
The purpose of sharing these stories is awareness and understanding.
Stories are reviewed and edited to remove names, locations, dates, or details that could identify a person, family, or program. We do not publish information that could put anyone at risk.
These stories help illustrate how broader policies and enforcement practices show up in everyday life for children, families, and Head Start programs.
“We got an email from DHS telling us to leave immediately.”
Families have received notices from DHS by email requesting that they leave the United States immediately, but without clear next steps or guidance.
“Families are scared to travel to school and work.”
Families have expressed fear about moving to and from school and work. Families who have shared their status as asylees or refugees worry about their future and stability, but many do not have the financial resources for legal counsel.
“A staff member witnessed a detention in front of a pregnant wife.”
A staff member at a delegate site witnessed a man being detained in front of his pregnant wife. Stories are increasing of both staff family members and enrolled families being impacted by immigration enforcement. Families also struggle with emergency plans because many lack extended family or trusted adults they can list as emergency contacts.
“Families stopped attending events and Policy Council.”
Some families are scared to leave their homes due to ICE activity. They have stopped attending family events and Policy Council meetings. One parent witnessed someone being taken by ICE. Staff have been assisting families with preparation steps in case a detention occurs.
“I have seen people being taken away at our grocery store.”
A staff member reported witnessing people being taken away at a local grocery store.
“One income. All the bills. Constant fear.”
A staff member’s husband was picked up, and she is trying to keep their home running on one income. Families have dropped from the program due to fear and are not leaving their homes. Some will not go to church, grocery stores, or even a food pantry. Money is scarce, but they fear not coming home to their children.
“Esperanza’s family was thriving. ICE presence changed everything.”
This is a strong, stable family that has been deeply impacted by fear and disruption connected to ICE activity in the community.
I visit one of my favorite families. I will call her Esperanza. They are a solid family that is always ready to learn more. Mom is thriving, she learned so much from Early Intervention, and survived the difficulties of having Juan wear a corrective helmet when he was little. It was difficult, but she has an enormous sense of pride for supporting her child’s growth. Both parents work in dependable jobs and have very good relationships with their employers. Their older two kids go to school, work, and are caring children and supportive siblings. Raul loves his little brother, Juan, who attends our Head Start program. He drives him to school because Esperanza starts work earlier. Raul attends school functions to support Juan when their parents cannot take the day off and teaches Juan to read and write in Spanish. Juan is bright and funny and loves his family. They sometimes dog sit a neighbor’s dog to earn extra income and to enjoy having a dog.
The presence of ICE in the community has devastated this family. Juan wonders why they do not go on long bike rides anymore, and wonders why he is not invited to birthday parties. “Is it because my friends do not like me anymore, Mom?” he asks. The older children can barely pay attention to school because they spend hours on social media looking for news about ICE locations and then share updates with their dad while he is at work. They worry and pray for their mom and dad. They do not share all their worries with Juan because he is little and they want to protect him. They cry and wonder why a place they call home has become hostile to people who look like them.
Dad started to miss days of work out of fear. He stays home and is getting depressed. He feels frustrated and hopeless. Mom is working hard to keep them going, but she feels a toll on her health. She started to have headaches and feel dizzy and nauseated. She does not miss a day of work because she cannot. One day, while at work, she received the call that her husband was being chased. He ran for blocks and hid on a third-floor balcony. He was scared and crying. They hang up so he can focus on staying hidden, and Mom worried for hours about his safety. He came home later that day tired and shaken.
“Why is this happening? How can people hate us this much?” The whole family struggles to continue. The kids barely pay attention to school because they worry. Mom is waiting for her green card appointment, but now even that is a source of fear. She worries: Would they trick her into the office just to take her away?
“A family self-reported their status and is leaving the country.”
A family leaving the country was allowed to bring suitcases or bags but did not have any. The program helped secure a donation of suitcases. The family also lost money after paying someone to help with the process, but the person took the money and did not provide the services.
“Families and staff carry legal paperwork everywhere.”
Families and staff report carrying legal paperwork with them in case of ICE encounters.
“Even drop-off and pick-up feels risky.”
There is fear of leaving the building to drop off or pick up a child from school.
Franklin Park, Illinois: Head Start father killed during an ICE traffic stop
Silverio Villegas González, a father of two, was shot and killed during an ICE traffic stop in Franklin Park, Illinois on September 12, 2025. DHS stated the shooting occurred after an agent was injured during the stop. Public reporting has included disputed accounts about what happened in the moments before the shooting, along with calls for transparency and investigation.
Note: If you plan to publish this story publicly, attach sources (for example: AP, Reuters, WBEZ, Chicago Sun-Times) and keep the language factual and non-accusatory.
“A father was detained at drop-off. ICE left two children strapped in their car seats.”
A father bringing his children to Head Start or Early Head Start was detained by ICE. The two children were left strapped in their car seats until community members stepped in and cared for them until the mother arrived.