Lewis University is temporarily shifting all in-person classes at its Oak Brook site to online this week, after learning that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will be operating out of office space in the same building. The move, which affects sessions scheduled through Saturday, follows a burst of social media attention and mounting community concern over the new federal presence.
What the University Announced
According to Lewis University, the U.S. General Services Administration has leased office space in the building where the school’s Oak Brook location operates, and ICE will use part of that space for administrative offices. The university noted that it is one of several tenants in the property and "does not have control over leasing decisions involving other occupants." For this week, all in-person classes at the Oak Brook site from Monday through Saturday will move online where possible, and any courses that cannot be delivered remotely will be canceled.
ICE Presence and Local Reaction
ABC7 Chicago reports that news of the GSA lease and ICE’s planned use of the building quickly drew online posts and community concern, including worries about potential protests at the site. Oak Brook village officials told the outlet they had not been notified that ICE would be renting offices there and said they are now reviewing whether the property’s office zoning would allow detention or other law-enforcement uses.
Campus Services and Next Steps
The university said it is in communication with property management and will issue updates as it learns more, emphasizing that students can access counseling services and TimelyCare if they need support. Lewis lists its Oak Brook location at 1111 W. 22nd Street and says that, for now, it is prioritizing safety and continuity of instruction while it keeps an eye on how the situation develops.
What to Watch
Officials in both Oak Brook and at the university say details are still limited. They have pledged to share any changes through official university channels and village offices. If the GSA or ICE release public statements, or if the village determines there are zoning or permitting constraints, the status of in-person instruction at the Oak Brook site could shift again before the week is out.
