A day care teacher was released from federal immigration custody just hours after a federal judge ruled her arrest last week “unlawful.”
Diana Santillana Galeano was released Wednesday night from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Clay County, Indiana, her attorney Charlie Wysong announced Thursday. Only hours earlier, U.S. District Judge Jeremy C. Daniel ordered the government hold a bond hearing for Santillana Galeano within the next week, answering Wysong’s habeas petition.
“I am so grateful to everyone who has advocated on my behalf, and on behalf of the countless others who have experienced similar trauma over recent months in the Chicago area,” Santillana Galeano said in a statement. “I love our community and the children I teach, and I can’t wait to see them again.”
Galeano was pulled by armed federal officers on Nov. 5 from inside Rayito de Sol Spanish Immersion Early Learning Center at 2550 W. Addison St. Video footage showed two agents dragging Santillana Galeano out of the day care around 7 a.m. as she shouted, “Yo tengo papeles” [I have papers] — telling them she had documentation. Armed agents then entered the center without a warrant and searched room to room while children were present, Ald. Matt Martin (47th) said last week.
Daniel ordered that Santillana Galeano be given a bond hearing before an immigration judge by Tuesday. The government must then report back to Daniel within two days of that deadline with an update on her release.
Maria Guzman, mother of two children how attend Rayito de Sol Spanish Immersion Early Learning Center wipes tears from her face after a rally at Northcenter Town Square, in support of “Ms. Diana” an educator who was detained by federal law enforcement officers at the daycare this morning, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Santillana Galeano’s arrest sparked outrage from the community and from parents at the day care center — who said the immigration officer’s actions put the lives of children who were inside the day care center in danger.
U.S. Department of Homeland spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin claimed immigration officers did not target the day care, but had “attempted to conduct a targeted traffic stop” of Santillana Galeano before the vehicle sped into the shopping plaza.
DHS did not respond immediately to a request for comment regarding Santillana Galeano’s release.
“We are thrilled that Ms. Santillana was released, and has been able to return home to Chicago where she belongs,” Wysong said in a statement. “We will continue to pursue her immigration claims to stay in the United States. We are grateful to her community for the outpouring of support over these difficult days, and ask that her privacy be respected while she rests and recovers from this ordeal.”
Santillana Galeano will be reunited with parents from the day care center during a gathering Friday morning at Clark Park, 3400 N. Rockwell St.