Fresno Students Protest ICE Presence at City Hall

Roosevelt High School students join others across Central Valley to express support for immigrants and opposition to ICE.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Students from Roosevelt High School in Fresno, California joined protests across the Central Valley this week to express their support for immigrants and opposition to the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in their communities. The protests, which took place at Fresno's city hall, were supported by some adults like human rights activist Gloria Hernandez, who said the students were exercising their constitutional rights. However, the Fresno Unified School District expressed concerns about student safety and said it was no longer safe for students to protest in the streets.

Why it matters

The student protests highlight growing concerns among young people about the role of ICE and immigration enforcement in their communities. The demonstrations also reflect a broader debate around the balance between students' rights to protest and school districts' responsibilities to ensure student safety.

The details

Throughout the week, students from cities across the Central Valley were expressing their support for immigrants and their disdain for ICE. On Friday, students from Roosevelt High School joined others at Fresno's city hall to protest ICE's presence. Human rights activist Gloria Hernandez, who protested as a student in the 1970s, said she is walking with the students to support their rights. However, Fresno Unified's Superintendent Misty Her released a statement saying that due to increased safety concerns, it is no longer safe for students to protest in the streets.

  • On Friday, students from Roosevelt High School joined others at Fresno's city hall to protest.
  • Throughout the week, students from cities across the Central Valley were expressing their support for immigrants and their disdain for ICE.

The players

Gloria Hernandez

A human rights activist who says she is walking with the students to support their rights, as she did when she was their age in the 1970s.

Misty Her

The Superintendent of Fresno Unified School District, who released a statement expressing support for the protest but saying it is no longer safe for students to protest in the streets.

Roosevelt High School students

Students from Roosevelt High School in Fresno, California who joined protests across the Central Valley to express support for immigrants and opposition to ICE.

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What they’re saying

“They're standing up for their first, fourth and fifth ammendment and their human rights. For their right to protest. Their right to immigrate and move freely in the world. So I'm supporting the children.”

— Gloria Hernandez, Human rights activist

“If anything were teaching them their civic duty, that is to protest and to be able to bring grievances towards their government, which is their first ammendment.”

— Gloria Hernandez, Human rights activist

“Never, we're here to support and help others. I'm here supporting our people, and we want ICE to get off our streets, because there are 3,000 kids that are in detention and we want them out.”

— Roosevelt High School sophomore

What’s next

The Fresno Unified School District said it is no longer safe for students to protest in the streets, raising questions about how the district will respond if students continue to demonstrate.

The takeaway

The student protests in Fresno reflect a broader debate around the balance between students' rights to protest and school districts' responsibilities to ensure student safety. The demonstrations also highlight growing concerns among young people about the role of immigration enforcement in their communities.