See students across America organize walkouts to protest ICE
- - See students across America organize walkouts to protest ICE
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY February 3, 2026 at 11:56 PM
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See students across America organize walkouts to protest ICE
Thousands of middle and high school students across the U.S. are taking to the streets to protest the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after federal agents shot and killed Alex Petti and Renee Good during demonstrations in Minneapolis last month.
A series of nationwide student walkouts occurred on Jan. 30 as part of a "National Shutdown," an organized event asking Americans to skip school, stay home from work and boycott shopping in protest of ICE's operations across the country. The event, modeled after the one-day shutdown in Minnesota, was organized by a coalition of student groups.
The walkouts and marches have extended beyond shutdown day, with young people leaving classrooms and taking to the streets in subsequent demonstrations − and there are still more of these student-led protests to come, according to local reports.
See here scenes from student marches in cities across the U.S.
protesting against Trump's surge of immigration enforcement actions.Pictured here, Demonstrators gather for a protest calling for the removal of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Jan. 30, 2026 in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Protests were held across the United States in response to ICE enforcement activity.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>After the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good by federal immigration agents (ICE), communities across the U.S. are protesting against Trump's surge of immigration enforcement actions.Pictured here, Demonstrators gather for a protest calling for the removal of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Jan. 30, 2026 in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Protests were held across the United States in response to ICE enforcement activity.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/75Pye_b2ALqj85cOa484KQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/3c76aabe582dbbed67880e4a96de38cf class=caas-img data-headline="‘ICE Out’ protests spark marches, confrontations across US" data-caption="
After the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good by federal immigration agents (ICE), communities across the U.S. are protesting against Trump's surge of immigration enforcement actions.Pictured here, Demonstrators gather for a protest calling for the removal of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Jan. 30, 2026 in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Protests were held across the United States in response to ICE enforcement activity.
">After the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good by federal immigration agents (ICE), communities across the U.S. are protesting against Trump's surge of immigration enforcement actions.Pictured here, Demonstrators gather for a protest calling for the removal of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Jan. 30, 2026 in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Protests were held across the United States in response to ICE enforcement activity.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/75Pye_b2ALqj85cOa484KQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/3c76aabe582dbbed67880e4a96de38cf class=caas-img>Hundreds of people gather to protest ICE at the corner of Palafox and Garden Streets in downtown Pensacola, Florida, on Jan. 30, 2026.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/P5LIg74OSjRl2O0uY.pt5w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD03ODM-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/ebf2ffa816bf5365bf49209b72623e35 class=caas-img data-headline="‘ICE Out’ protests spark marches, confrontations across US" data-caption="
Hundreds of people gather to protest ICE at the corner of Palafox and Garden Streets in downtown Pensacola, Florida, on Jan. 30, 2026.
">Hundreds of people gather to protest ICE at the corner of Palafox and Garden Streets in downtown Pensacola, Florida, on Jan. 30, 2026.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/P5LIg74OSjRl2O0uY.pt5w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD03ODM-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/ebf2ffa816bf5365bf49209b72623e35 class=caas-img>
1 / 16‘ICE Out’ protests spark marches, confrontations across US
After the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good by federal immigration agents (ICE), communities across the U.S. are protesting against Trump's surge of immigration enforcement actions.Pictured here, Demonstrators gather for a protest calling for the removal of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Jan. 30, 2026 in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Protests were held across the United States in response to ICE enforcement activity.
Indianapolis, IN
Students across the Indianapolis metro area have walked out or plan to this week. Hundreds of students from North Central High School poured out onto the streets on Monday, Feb. 2, prompting police to close northern Indianapolis streets, while a few hundred marched out of Noblesville High School the same day.
"We're feeling powerful," student organizer Emma-Louise Akinleye told the IndyStar, part of the USA TODAY Network. "We're feeling like our voices — they have a real impact."
More walkouts were planned at several high schools, including Greenfield High School, Mt. Vernon High School in Fortville, Park Tudor High School, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School and Zionsville High School.
Tallahassee, FL
In Florida, students in Tallahassee and beyond braved the abnormal cold to take to the streets. Nearly 100 students at Lincoln High School in Eastern Tallahassee marched off campus in protest of ICE on Feb. 2.
"The hate in the halls is loud, but we want to be louder. We hope to advocate for peace and equality," student organizer Mara Stopyak told the Tallahassee Democrat, part of the USA TODAY Network. "We want to show Tallahassee that we do not stand with ICE."
In Port Orange, an estimated 100 Atlantic High School students skipped afternoon classes on Friday, Jan. 30, to protest, defying threats of disciplinary action from school officials.
Fort Collins and Denver, CO
In Fort Collins, Colorado, nearly half of the 766 students at Lesher Middle School participated in a student-led walkout on Feb. 2, reported the Fort Collins Coloradoan, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Businesses in Fort Collins, about 60 miles north of Denver, previously closed on Jan. 30 in solidarity with a nationwide shutdown to protest the actions of ICE.
Several Denver-area school districts closed or changed their schedules on Jan. 30 to accommodate large student walkouts, reported The Denver Gazette, as thousands marched to the state capitol.
Reno, NV
In Reno, Nevada, hundreds of middle and high school students across Washoe County walked out in force on Jan. 30. Young people came from schools across the Reno area, including Reno, McQueen, Sparks, Wooster and Damonte high schools.
“We are sick of seeing on the news how ICE is shooting and killing and how the budget is going crazy and how everything is out of control,” 18-year-old student James Frazier told the Reno Gazette Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Milwaukee, WI
In the Milwaukee metro area, hundreds of students from several high and middle schools marched and chanted during a walkout, with Whitefish Bay High School student Rain Rosenberg calling ICE's actions "un-American."
"I care about this a lot. I think that kids here at (Whitefish) Bay have a lot of privilege and we need to speak out," she told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network.
The Milwaukee area and Wisconsin at large have seen several student protests in recent weeks. On Jan. 20, students at Rufus King International High School, Reagan High School, Dominican High School and West Allis Central High School walked out.
The same day, in the Fox Cities area in east central Wisconsin, about 100 Menasha High School students walked out. Those were preceded by walkouts at Shorewood High School on Jan. 16 and Wauwatosa East High School on Jan. 12.
Phoenix, AZ
Students from high schools and colleges in the Phoenix area protested on Jan. 30, prompting more than 20 schools in the Tucson Unified School District to close for the day.
The protests came after demonstrations on Jan. 28 at area schools, including Arcadia High School, Tolleson Union High School and Camelback High School, among others.
Hundreds of students ultimately took to the streets, reported the Arizona Republic, a part of the USA TODAY Network.
Knoxville, TN
Students in Knoxville, TN, also participated in large walkouts on Jan. 30, gathering downtown to march to the City-County Building. Of the hundreds that participated in the march, a large portion − about 40% − were estimated to be students, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network.
“Our country is built from immigrants from the ground up,” Powell High School sophomore Emma Noe told the Sentinel. “Our ancestors would be disappointed.”
Elected officials, including Knoxville City Councilmember Denzel Grant and State Rep. Gloria Johnson, also attended to show their support for students.
Asheville, NC
Over 200 students walked out of Asheville High School on Feb. 2, taking signs and chants to the streets outside. At least one local official, Asheville City Council member Kim Roney, also attended in a show of support.
"We want to show that the youth aren't backing down," Cora, a student and lifelong Asheville resident, told the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Palm Springs, CA
Hundreds of students across the Coachella Valley in California walked out of class on Jan. 30, reported the Palm Springs Desert Sun, part of the USA TODAY Network.
“I think we’re headed toward a period of fascism in America, and I think it’s important for young people who have a voice to speak up against things they think are important," Chloe Freeman, a junior at La Quinta High School, told the Desert Sun.
Middle and high school students from Desert Sands Unified School District, Coachella Valley Unified School District and other area schools participated in the hundreds, with Palm Springs Unified School District students planning to hold their own march on Feb. 9
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ICE protests continue as US students stage school walkouts
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