James Heidorn, a physical education teacher in West Chicago, said he never believed a short Facebook comment could end his career. He wrote ‘Go ICE’ under a news article about police collaborating with the federal immigration agency. That was all. Two words. But the post quickly spread online, triggering backlash throughout the community. Parents, activists and local officials criticised him. As the pressure intensified, Heidorn resigned after 14 years in education.
He told FOX News the experience was ‘professionally and personally devastating and surreal.’ He said he had spent more than a decade building relationships with students, only to see it unravel because of one brief online remark. ‘Two simple words… expressing personal support for law enforcement,’ he said, still stunned by the fallout.
The controversy began in late January. Screenshots of Heidorn’s comment circulated widely on social media. West Chicago is a predominantly Hispanic community, and some residents said the statement felt hurtful. Activists amplified concerns, and the school district placed Heidorn on leave while it conducted an investigation.
State senator Karina Villa criticised the post, saying it was insensitive to students’ experiences. Mayor Daniel Bovey also addressed the issue in a video, stating the comment could be ‘hurtful’ and potentially traumatic. Some parents urged others to keep their children home from school.
At a city-hosted listening session, several participants said students did not feel safe and described the comment as ‘cruel.’ Heidorn maintained that the post was not directed at students, families or the school community. But the criticism continued to grow. He chose to resign rather than face possible termination. The loss of his teaching position also cost him his soccer coaching roles at nearby private schools, adding to the financial and emotional strain.
Heidorn said the episode raises broader concerns about free speech. ‘This is bigger than me,’ he said. ‘Can personal opinions outside work cost someone their livelihood without due process?’ He argued there appeared to be a double standard and suggested discipline was politically selective.
Supporters created a GoFundMe page describing him as a ‘beloved physical education teacher.’
He told students he never intended to cause harm. ‘I would never want any of you to feel unsafe or unloved,’ he said, reassuring them of his commitment. Public school teachers in the United States have First Amendment protections, though those rights are not absolute.
Courts weigh off-duty speech against a district’s need to maintain order and trust. The Supreme Court’s Pickering v. Board of Education decision established that framework. Educators may speak on matters of public concern. However, if speech disrupts school operations or undermines confidence, districts can intervene.
School policies also factor into these decisions. Many districts require employees to behave professionally online, even on personal accounts. Courts have upheld such rules when posts affect students, parents or a school’s reputation.
Public backlash and political pressure do not directly fire teachers. But they can create circumstances in which a school board determines off-duty speech has broken trust or made it difficult for a teacher to perform their job. Union contracts may offer additional protections, though outcomes vary by district and state.
In Heidorn’s case, his two-word comment qualified as protected political speech. In practice, however, if speech is viewed as potentially endangering students, districts can discipline or dismiss educators without violating constitutional rights. He was not formally dismissed; he chose to resign amid mounting pressure from students, parents, school officials and the broader West Chicago community.
Federal immigration enforcement operations in the Chicago area have drawn scrutiny and, at times, violence. In September 2025, 38-year-old Silverio Villegas González was shot and killed by an ICE agent during a traffic stop in suburban Franklin Park near Chicago.
There have also been reports of tense raids on residential neighbourhoods and apartment buildings. Witnesses said federal agents used tear gas on city streets and detained residents. This week in Chicago, a 16-year-old who had publicly advocated for her father’s release from ICE custody died after a prolonged battle with cancer.
None of this excuses threats or harassment directed at Heidorn online. But it helps explain why even a brief comment supporting a controversial agency like ICE can provoke swift and emotional reactions.
