Central Valley Students Protest ICE with Walkouts

Fresno, Madera, and Clovis students leave classrooms to demonstrate against immigration enforcement

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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Over the past few days, students across California's Central Valley have walked out of their classrooms and into the streets to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The student-led demonstrations took place in Fresno, Madera, and Clovis, with hundreds of students marching to express their concerns about ICE's impact on their communities. School districts have responded with mixed messages, supporting students' right to free expression but also citing safety risks from the off-campus protests.

Why it matters

The student walkouts reflect growing concerns within Central Valley communities about the role and practices of ICE. The protests highlight tensions between students' desire to advocate for their beliefs and school districts' responsibility to ensure student safety, as well as broader debates around immigration enforcement and its effects on local populations.

The details

Students from Fresno, Madera, and Clovis Unified school districts participated in the walkouts, marching out of their classrooms and onto the streets to voice opposition to ICE. Dulce Alvarado, a Clovis West graduate, said the protests reflect fears within the community about "wrongful detentions" by immigration authorities. School officials have responded with mixed messages - supporting students' right to free expression but also citing safety risks from the off-campus demonstrations and threatening disciplinary action for truancy.

  • On Friday, students walked out of their classes in Fresno, Madera, and Clovis.
  • On Saturday, Fresno County superintendents released a joint statement calling for an end to off-campus walkouts.

The players

Dulce Alvarado

A Clovis West graduate who says the protests reflect concerns within the community about ICE's impact.

Misty Herr

The Fresno Unified School District superintendent, who cited increased safety concerns as the reason students can no longer protest in the streets.

Kelly Avants

A spokesperson for Clovis Unified School District, who said students' freedom of expression is protected under state law but they are encouraged to protest on campus in ways that align with school policy.

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What they’re saying

“They're being very discouraging to the community, making them afraid over something that they shouldn't be, especially when a lot of people are wrongfully detained.”

— Dulce Alvarado, Clovis West graduate (yourcentralvalley.com)

“Due to increased concern for students' physical safety, it is no longer safe for students to protest in the street.”

— Misty Herr, Fresno Unified Superintendent (yourcentralvalley.com)

“California Education Code allows for a prior notification absence being excused for the purpose of self-expression. One day a school year.”

— Kelly Avants, Clovis Unified spokesperson (yourcentralvalley.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The student walkouts in the Central Valley highlight the ongoing tensions between students' desire to advocate for their beliefs and school districts' responsibility to ensure student safety, as well as the broader debates around immigration enforcement and its effects on local communities.