Secret Service agents, not ICE, visited Chicago school, officials say amid deportation fears

CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. Secret Service said its agents visited a Chicago elementary school Friday while investigating a threat, hours after school officials mistakenly claimed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had come to the building.

In a statement Friday evening, Chicago Public Schools leaders said that after their initial comments went out about ICE agents, they learned the agents were from the Secret Service. The false alarm heightened fears among immigrant communities in the country’s third-largest city.

“Our original communication was a result of a misunderstanding, reflective of the fear and concerns in the community amid the new administration’s focus on undocumented immigrants,” the statement said.

The Trump administration touted deportation efforts this week and published new rules making it easier to remove people as part of a flurry of actions to crack down on illegal immigration.

The statement from Chicago Public Schools said two people showed up at the door of Hamline Elementary School and presented identification including the name Department of Homeland Security, the federal agency that oversees ICE. School officials responded to the agents with the understanding that they were from ICE, amid rumors and reports that the agency was in the community, school district officials said.

The agents were from the Secret Service Chicago Field Office and visited the school while investigating a threat made against a government official they protect, according to statement sent by Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi. He said agents first visited a home in a local neighborhood and then went to the school.

“Agents identified themselves to the school principal and provided business cards with their contact information,” the statement said.

He said the agents left without incident.

“We do not investigate nor enforce immigration laws,” the statement said.

ICE officials said in a statement that no immigration enforcement actions took place Friday at or near a school in Chicago.

Chicago Public Schools officials said the agents were not allowed into the school or to speak with staff or students.

“While this was a misunderstanding in terms of the specific branch of DHS, the school’s response demonstrates that our system, in partnership with community organizations, is prepared and ready to keep our students and staff safe,” the statement said.

People enter Hamline Elementary School after federal agents were turned away on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

A person walks by Hamline Elementary School after federal agents were turned away on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Activists with Revcom Corps Chicago hold signs outside of Hamline Elementary School after federal agents were turned away on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

An information card on rights and emergency contacts is posted on the door of Hamline Elementary School after federal agents were turned away on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Activist Lapis Marigold with Revcom Corps Chicago talks to people outside of Hamline Elementary School after federal agents were turned away on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Activist Lapis Marigold with Revcom Corps Chicago talks to people outside of Hamline Elementary School after federal agents were turned away on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Defending champion Gael Monfils lost his opening match at the ATP Tour stop in Auckland, New Zealand on Tuesday, three days after his wife Elina Svitolina won her 19th WTA Tour title on the same court.

The 39-year-old Frenchman lost 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 to 26-year-old Hungarian Fabian Marozsan at the ASB Classic in what may be the first match of his farewell season.

Monfils won the Auckland title in 2025 and told his wife Elina before her final on Sunday “if you don’t win this year I don’t know what to tell you anymore.” Svitolina and Monfils are one of only a few husband and wife teams to have held ATP and WTA singles titles in the same tournament at the same time.

Monfils started strongly in his first tournament since September, winning the first set with a break in the 11th game. He sent down 10 aces in the match. Monfils lost his first service game in the second set as Marozsan pulled off two superb winners at the net and went on to lose the set 6-3.

Monfils put up a great fight in the third set. After dropping his serve in the fifth game, he broke back immediately and tested Marozsan with his power variation. But Marozsan achieved the crucial break at 5-4 and held to take the match in exactly two hours.

“It's always special to play against Gael. He's a legend and a great player,” Marozsan said.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine stands with her husband, French tennis player Gael Monfils, after defeating Wang Xinju of China in the women's single final of the ASB Classic women's tennis tournament in Auckland, New Zealand on Sunday 11 Jan. 2026. (Alan Lee/Photosport via AP)