A teacher at an elementary school in West Chicago has reportedly been placed on administrative leave after a social media post showing support for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sparked backlash within the local community, according to Fox News.

Last week, the teacher posted “GO ICE” on Facebook. The message quickly circulated through the predominately Hispanic community, prompting strong reactions from residents and activists who accused the educator of being insensitive to the concerns of immigrant families. Fox News Digital has chosen not to identify the teacher due to safety reasons.

One viral post criticized the educator, saying it was unacceptable for a teacher in a largely Latino district to publicly support ICE. Other comments online used explicit language, condemning the teacher. Community activists began circulating a flyer and launched a petition on Change.org that demanded the teacher’s removal. The petition urged families to keep children home in protest, arguing that the teacher’s post demonstrated an attitude “inappropriate and unsuitable for an educator.”

"The best way to show our district that we need action to be taken – is to show them that keeping this teacher will disrupt the emotional welfare and therefore, the education of our students," the flyer said, according to the outlet.

The original Facebook post is no longer visible, and Fox News Digital could not independently verify it. According to the petition, the teacher’s message was made “in response to a community article.”

Several local leaders weighed in, including Illinois State Senator Karina Villa, who expressed solidarity with upset families. She acknowledged the teacher’s right to free speech but said that educators have a duty to foster “a safe and welcoming environment for all.”

West Chicago Elementary School District 33 Superintendent Kristina Davis addressed the issue in an email to parents. She said the teacher initially submitted a formal resignation before an internal investigation began but withdrew the resignation before the school board acted on it. Because of that, the teacher was still scheduled to return to work the following Monday.

District 33 remains committed to providing safe, caring, and inclusive learning environments for all students. Thank you for your continued partnership.

At the request of Mayor Daniel Bovey, city officials held a community “listening session” with translation services to allow residents to voice concerns. Several speakers described the post as “cruel” and said the incident made children feel unsafe at school.

Later that day, a district spokesperson confirmed that the teacher had been officially placed on administrative leave. The district’s statement noted that “the employee involved has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation and will not be permitted on any District property while on leave."

When asked by Fox News Digital for clarification about which specific district policy the teacher may have violated by expressing support for a law enforcement agency, district officials reportedly declined to comment.