Shocking Double Standard EXPOSED in Teacher Firing

A 14-year veteran teacher in West Chicago lost his job for posting two words—”GO ICE”—on his personal Facebook account, exposing a disturbing double standard where supporting federal law enforcement now costs educators their careers.

Story Snapshot

James Heidorn resigned after posting “GO ICE” on personal Facebook, sparking community outrage in district with 81% Hispanic students
District investigated under pressure from protests and walkouts but cited no specific policy violation, accepting resignation February 5, 2026
Heidorn receives pay through school year but calls situation “devastating,” while supporters question why anti-ICE teacher posts go unchallenged
Case sets chilling precedent for teachers’ off-duty speech rights and exposes viewpoint discrimination in public education

Teacher’s Two-Word Post Triggers Resignation Under Pressure

James Heidorn, a physical education teacher at Gary Elementary School in West Chicago District 33, resigned after posting “GO ICE” on his personal Facebook page in response to a local news story about police cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The January 2026 post quickly spread through activist networks, generating a Change.org petition, protest flyers, and parental walkouts demanding his termination. District officials placed Heidorn on administrative leave January 22, launching an investigation despite never publicly identifying which policy he violated.

Community Backlash and School District Response

West Chicago District 33 serves a community where 81 percent of students are Hispanic, according to the 2025 state report card. Mayor Dan Bovey noted recent ICE operations that detained parents heightened community tensions, with some viewing Heidorn’s post as insensitive given students’ trauma. School Board President Rita Balgeman insisted the February 5 decision to accept Heidorn’s resignation “was never about politics” but rather minimizing disruption to learning. The separation agreement provides Heidorn salary and benefits through the school year plus a neutral reference, yet he loses his career over expressing support for a federal law enforcement agency on his personal time.

Double Standards and Free Speech Concerns

Public comments during school board meetings revealed significant frustration with apparent viewpoint discrimination. Community members like Timothy Lorman questioned whether employment now requires alignment with “popular opinion,” while others noted that anti-ICE posts by educators face no consequences. Heidorn told Fox News Digital the situation was “professionally and personally devastating,” emphasizing he cares deeply about his students. The district’s refusal to specify any policy violation while bowing to activist pressure raises fundamental First Amendment concerns about public employees’ rights to political expression outside work hours.

Broader Implications for Educators and Constitutional Rights

This case establishes a troubling precedent where teachers face termination for supporting federal law enforcement on personal social media accounts. The investigation focused on community disruption rather than any violation of professional conduct, suggesting school districts may now police off-duty speech based on political popularity rather than legitimate policy concerns. Conservative educators in liberal-leaning districts face growing pressure to self-censor views on immigration enforcement, gun rights, and traditional values. Heidorn’s supporters launched a GoFundMe campaign as he explores new education opportunities, but the damage to free speech rights in public education extends far beyond one teacher’s career.

IF A TEACHER CAN BE FIRED FOR SUPPORTING ICE, THEN TEACHERS SHOULD BE FIRED FOR OPPOSING ICE. Chicago Area Teacher Forced to Resign for Supporting ICE Speaks Out https://t.co/sO5F1Qrduq

— ArmyMom224⛪️✝️🇺🇸🪖 (@ArmyMom224) February 16, 2026

The West Chicago incident exposes how leftist activists weaponize claims of “trauma” and “safety” to silence constitutionally protected speech they dislike. When supporting ICE—an agency tasked with enforcing immigration law—becomes grounds for termination, while anti-law-enforcement rhetoric goes unchallenged, we witness not education policy but ideological enforcement. Patriots should recognize this for what it is: government overreach that undermines both the First Amendment and rule of law, setting dangerous precedent for viewpoint discrimination in public institutions funded by taxpayers of all political persuasions.