Podcast Summary: Chicago Teachers Fight To Keep ICE Out Of Schools

Podcast: What A Day (Crooked Media)
Host: Jane Coaston
Date: September 10, 2025
Guest: Stacy Davis Gates, President of the Chicago Teachers Union
Episode Focus:
This episode explores how Chicago teachers and their union are responding to stepped-up federal immigration enforcement, particularly ICE activity near schools, and the broader challenges facing educators and students as the school year begins. The conversation highlights the real impacts on undocumented families, the efforts to maintain safe and inclusive educational spaces, and calls for solidarity and meaningful support.

Main Theme & Purpose

The episode centers on the heightened fears and challenges facing Chicago’s public schools due to increased immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, and how educators are working to protect all students—especially those from undocumented families. Host Jane Coaston interviews Stacy Davis Gates about the responses and needs of teachers, schools’ preparedness, and broader implications for education and community safety.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Escalated Immigration Enforcement Near Schools

• ICE Presence:
  Davis Gates describes “chaos, uncertainty, a lot of fear and intimidation” as ICE and other federal agencies (referred to as “Alphabet Boys”) were present outside major Chicago schools just before classes resumed.

  “The Sunday before school starts on Monday, the Alphabet Boys are across the street from one of the largest high schools in our city.”
  —Stacy Davis Gates, 02:17

• Effects on Families:
  Fear of enforcement leads to decreased school attendance and anxiety among students and parents, even within sanctuary city protections.

2. The Role (and Burden) of Teachers

• Beyond the Classroom:
  “The job of an educator isn’t just about teaching math, science... It’s about acting as a coach, a therapist, and a caring friend... even if they or their parents are undocumented.”
  —Jane Coaston, 01:22

• Expanding Protections:
  The Chicago Teachers Union has renegotiated contracts to enshrine sanctuary protections and prioritize teaching accurate, inclusive history and supporting vulnerable students, including Black and LGBTQ+ youth.

  “We took the mantle this time and said, let’s try to improve our school district... create community... provide avenues and options... create training modules and policies that respond to the contract...”
  —Stacy Davis Gates, 05:23

3. Community and Official Response

• Unity with City Government:
  Compared to prior years, there’s a stronger alliance between teachers, city officials, and the mayor, cultivating a “united front” to protect students.

  “If I’m honest with you, I haven’t seen Chicago united in this way in quite a long time.”
  —Stacy Davis Gates, 06:29

• Practical Support Efforts:
  Regular town halls, sharing “know your rights” materials, and partnering with legal organizations to support directly affected staff and families.

4. What Schools and Teachers Still Lack

• Resource Gaps:
  Despite a sense of solidarity, basic resources remain insufficient.

  “No, we don’t, actually. And that’s why we are so offended, quite frankly, by this overly surveilled moment in Chicago history.”
  —Stacy Davis Gates, 07:58

• Federal Cuts:
  Davis Gates calls for restoration of federal funding for rebuilding school libraries, Medicaid reimbursements (which fund social workers and nurses), and transportation support for sports teams and safe passage programs for students.

  “Federal funding would help with that... school districts get reimbursements, and those reimbursements fund social workers... valuable supports and resources...”
  —Stacy Davis Gates, 08:23

5. How the Broader Public Can Help

• Support Requests:
  Davis Gates urges listeners to:

  • Join local marches and school walk-ins,
  • Be present and supportive for students,
  • Be informed, share knowledge, and foster safe spaces.

  “When there is a march, join us... Join us in walking children to school every morning. Join us in making sure that they make it home safely. Make sure that you check on the kids... and be a safe space for them.”
  —Stacy Davis Gates, 10:24

• Message to Fellow Educators:
  Calls for solidarity, emphasizing collective commitment and protection.

  “Solidarity is the anecdote to white supremacy, to patriarchy, to terrorism. Because what it does is that it gives you an opportunity to work hand in glove with someone from a different generation, someone from a different gender, someone of a different race.”
  —Stacy Davis Gates, 11:18

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The only anecdote to this moment is our solidarity, and so we are putting that on steroids.”
  —Stacy Davis Gates, 07:37

• “In truth, our government is supposed to care for children, not terrorize children. And make sure we’re drawing lines in the sand on that.”
  —Stacy Davis Gates, 10:54

• “We keep each other safe. I would encourage a collective commitment to safety and to humanity.”
  —Stacy Davis Gates, 11:50

Important Timestamps

• 00:58: Trump’s statement on Chicago, violence, and federal “law and order” narrative
• 02:06: Stacy Davis Gates joins, begins discussing ICE presence near schools
• 03:37: Teachers’ multifaceted role under stress and trauma
• 06:15: Building unity with the city government and community response initiatives
• 07:58: Reality check on resource gaps for Chicago schools
• 08:23: Specific requests for restored federal funding and policy support
• 10:24: How listeners and the public can support teachers and students
• 11:18 - 12:15: Call for solidarity and final words of encouragement to educators nationwide

Conclusion

This episode delivers a ground-level look at the pressures facing Chicago’s educators and students in the face of aggressive immigration enforcement. It highlights the resourcefulness and resilience of teachers and communities, while underscoring the inadequacy of current resources and the need for systemic support and collective action. The discussion closes with a passionate call to solidarity and resistance, not just in Chicago but for educators and allies nationwide.