Tucson Teachers and Students Protest ICE, Causing Over 20 TUSD School Closures

Hundreds of teachers and students marched to the federal building in downtown Tucson to voice opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 9:15pm

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Hundreds of teachers and students in Tucson, Arizona gathered at Catalina Park on Friday afternoon before marching to the federal building downtown to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. The demonstration led to class cancellations at about 20 schools within the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) as teachers and staff participated in the protest.

Why it matters

The protest highlights growing concerns among educators and students about ICE's enforcement actions and the impact on local communities. The school closures underscore the disruptive effects that political demonstrations can have on educational institutions and the need to balance students' First Amendment rights with minimizing classroom disruptions.

The details

The demonstration began with a rally at Catalina Park, where participants voiced their opposition to ICE before joining other protesters downtown at the federal building. Wes Oswald, a third-grade teacher within TUSD, acknowledged the disruption caused by the school closures but emphasized the importance of the cause, saying "Every single one of our staff members called out sick, because this is important for all of us." State Superintendent Tom Horne criticized the involvement of teachers and school personnel, stating that "Students have the First Amendment right to peacefully protest, but it should be done after school hours. Teachers and other school personnel should not be a part of a protest during class time."

  • The protest took place on Friday, January 31, 2026.

The players

Wes Oswald

A third-grade teacher within the Tucson Unified School District.

Tom Horne

The Arizona State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Jocelyn Casillas

A University of Arizona student who participated in the protest.

Maya Casillas

A University of Arizona student who participated in the protest.

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What they’re saying

“Every single one of our staff members called out sick, because this is important for all of us.”

— Wes Oswald, Third-grade teacher, Tucson Unified School District (KGUN9)

“Students have the First Amendment right to peacefully protest, but it should be done after school hours. Teachers and other school personnel should not be a part of a protest during class time.”

— Tom Horne, Arizona State Superintendent of Public Instruction (KGUN9)

“It takes us, the people, to make change because we are the country, and this is for us. Politicians work for us, so it's just really important that we show and remind them what's important for us and what we want to see in our country.”

— Maya Casillas (KGUN9)

“I feel like now more than ever we need to be able to support one another, even from city to city. Standing in solidarity with the people in Minneapolis and all across.”

— Jocelyn Casillas (KGUN9)

What’s next

The Tucson Unified School District is expected to review its policies regarding staff participation in political protests during school hours.

The takeaway

This protest highlights the ongoing tensions between educators, students, and government agencies like ICE, as well as the challenges of balancing students' First Amendment rights with the need to minimize classroom disruptions. The event underscores the important role that teachers and students can play in advocating for social and political change, even if it means making difficult decisions that impact the school community.