Chicago Public Schools told families that students in the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program, or JROTC, should only wear their military-issued uniforms inside to avoid being mistaken for federal law enforcement.
The district is immediately revising its dress code policy to require students to travel to and from school in civilian clothes, wrote Tyese Sims, the executive director of CPS’ JROTC department, in a Friday letter to families.
“Unfortunately, when they are in uniform, there is no way for the general public to distinguish these CPS students from members of the military, including the National Guard,” Sims said.
The announcement comes as the Trump administration intensifies immigration enforcement in Chicago, as part of a controversial campaign known as “Operation Midway Blitz.”
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity has prompted heated protests across the area, including the agency’s processing facility in Broadview. Agents have responded by hurling tear gas and pepper balls at demonstrators, often in residential neighborhoods.
President Donald Trump had planned to deploy the National Guard in Chicago-area streets to act as a security force, but his plan was temporarily halted last week by a federal judge.
“With increased anxiety around the deployment of federal law enforcement in Chicago, we want to ensure that our JROTC cadets remain safe,” Sims said.
More than 5,400 students are enrolled in JROTC at CPS. In the federal program, which is sponsored by the Department of Defense, retired military service members teach high schoolers service and leadership skills. Participating students are required to wear their uniforms once a week.
CPS has 37 traditional JROTC programs and seven military academies. At military academies, students must wear uniforms daily. Uniforms are provided by the military branch that authorizes the program — either the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines.
Students will be given the opportunity to change into and out of their military uniforms at the start and end of the school day, the letter said. Exceptions to the new policy will only be made if students are participating in a parade, Color Guard or another official JROTC event.