Chicago Elementary School Students, Teachers React to ICE Tear Gas Incident

(CHICAGO, ILLINOIS) Federal immigration agents widely identified as ICE deployed what witnesses described as tear gas or chemical irritants just before noon on October 3, 2025, outside Funston Elementary in Logan Square, sending children, parents, and passersby scrambling for safety. Videos from cell phones and nearby cameras show canisters tossed from a vehicle at the intersection of Central Park and Armitage as smoke spread across a busy street. The school quickly shifted to indoor recess and changed dismissal to shield students from the chaos.

What happened outside the school

Teachers and staff said the scene turned “violent” and “traumatic” within minutes. A Funston Elementary teacher who stepped out during lunch sounded a whistle to warn others as the air filled with irritants. Students were rushed inside.

• Recess was held indoors for the rest of the day, and dismissal procedures were altered to reduce outdoor exposure.
• Parents reported stinging eyes and throats; one witness said, “As soon as it hit my face and hit my eyes, I knew that I couldn’t be out in it.”

Community members and rapid response volunteers converged on the school at dismissal, forming a protective presence on the sidewalks. Dozens wore bicycle helmets and masks, trying to guide families to cars and buses while keeping kids calm. Some parents were too frightened to approach the area, volunteers said, so neighbors walked children home.

Residents described feeling shaken in the hours that followed, with many saying they no longer felt safe in their own neighborhood. The presence of ICE near a school added to long‑standing fears among mixed‑status families.

Mayor Brandon Johnson praised the organizers and volunteers who stepped in as the day unfolded. He thanked the rapid responders who worked to protect children and families and noted the city’s ongoing reliance on community networks when federal enforcement actions flare. School officials also acknowledged the response, saying the immediate focus was keeping students inside and accounted for while the street situation remained uncertain.

Earlier that same day, 26th Ward Alderman Jesse Fuentes was reportedly handcuffed by federal agents after questioning ICE activity at a local health facility. The alderman’s detention, followed by the use of tear gas near Funston Elementary, fed a sense of a tense and confused day in Logan Square. Residents and advocates said both incidents point to a wider pattern of aggressive tactics and community pushback.

Policy backdrop and legal questions

ICE has long operated under guidance discouraging enforcement near schools, places of worship, and hospitals. For years, this approach was known as the “sensitive locations” policy. In 2021, DHS issued updated guidance on “protected areas,” which similarly urged strong caution around schools and related community sites.

• That guidance is influential but not a formal regulation.
• It does not explicitly address the use of tear gas.

For background, see the Department of Homeland Security guidance on “protected areas”: https://www.dhs.gov/publication/guidelines-enforcement-actions-or-near-protected-areas.

As of October 20, 2025, there is no public record of a formal ICE or DHS policy that authorizes the use of chemical agents near schools. Local legal analysts say deploying tear gas without a clear safety threat could amount to assault under Illinois law. They encourage those affected to file reports with the Chicago Police Department to create a record and consider possible charges.

Attorneys also note that chemical agents can affect children more severely, given their smaller body size and developing lungs.

What remains unclear is the exact reason agents used tear gas at that moment. Federal agencies have not announced disciplinary steps or internal reviews. Without a detailed public account, legal experts say courts and oversight bodies will face a challenge:

Determining whether the use of force matched any immediate threat, and whether the location—outside a public elementary school at lunch hour—should have halted such tactics.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, community documentation—videos, time‑stamped phone records, and medical reports—often plays a vital role in later reviews of enforcement actions.

Community impact and responses

Families around Funston Elementary say the tear gas event adds to daily stress for immigrant households. Many parents now plan routes to avoid the intersection. Teachers report students expressing fear about seeing ICE and asking whether agents can “come back.” Counselors have provided calming exercises and simple safety plans to help children regain a sense of control.

• The emotional fallout for students and staff remains one of the most pressing concerns, school workers say.
• Advocacy groups want stronger, binding rules that restrict federal enforcement near schools and ban chemical agents in those areas.
• They are also asking the city to create a rapid notice system so principals can be alerted if federal activity starts near campuses.

Community leaders point to existing rapid response networks that already move volunteers toward schools during potential enforcement events. They say these networks need:

• Funding for training
• Protective gear
• Language access to support families who speak Spanish, Polish, and other languages common in Chicago

Some immigrant parents are weighing basic choices many take for granted: Should a child walk home or wait inside? Should a parent come to the door if the family fears being targeted? While Chicago is a “welcoming city,” local leaders stress that city policy does not control federal enforcement. That gap leaves schools to build their own safety steps—keeping kids inside, arranging supervised exits, and asking community volunteers to help.

Health concerns and medical guidance

Chemical irritants can cause:

• Burning eyes
• Coughing and chest tightness
• Panic and exacerbation of asthma

They can be more dangerous for people with respiratory conditions, and for children.

Pediatricians in the area advised volunteers and families to:

• Rinse eyes with clean water
• Change clothing after exposure
• Watch for breathing problems

Families have been urged to seek medical care if symptoms worsen, and to save any medical notes in case legal review follows.

Trust, schools, and next steps

Teachers say trust is at stake. For many children, school is a safe place. Seeing smoke, masks, and rushing adults at the school fence can break that feeling. Staff members at Funston Elementary are trying to rebuild routine—quiet classrooms, steady schedules, and familiar faces—so kids can focus on learning. Meanwhile, parents and students are asking direct questions about ICE and tear gas that educators now must answer with care.

Local officials want federal clarity. They’re asking DHS to explain when and how agents can use chemical agents in dense residential areas, and whether schools deserve a higher level of protection. Without that clarity, families fear another surprise at pickup time.

The longer the silence, the more likely it becomes that city officials, school districts, and community lawyers will craft their own buffers—symbolic or practical—to slow federal operations near campuses.

Practical steps advocates recommend

1. Document exposure and health effects, including photos and time stamps.
2. File a police report to create a record of the incident.
3. Connect with legal aid and rapid response groups that track enforcement and support families.

Closing note

What happened outside Funston Elementary on October 3 has become a local marker—a day when a routine school lunch period collided with a federal enforcement tactic rarely seen at a school fence. Whether that moment leads to stronger protections or becomes another flash point in a tense year for Chicago’s immigrant communities remains an open question.

Parents and students will return to that corner again, hoping the air is clear and the school day is just a school day.