Los Angeles Students Protest Against ICE Policies

Thousands of high school students in LA march to City Hall, condemn immigration enforcement actions

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Thousands of high school students in Los Angeles walked out of class on Friday and marched through downtown to City Hall, protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policies and what they described as "unfair" and "illegal" detentions and deportations affecting their friends and family members. The demonstrations also focused on ICE's presence near schools, with students arguing that campuses should remain safe spaces for all children regardless of immigration status.

Why it matters

The student-led protests reflect growing concerns in the immigrant community about aggressive immigration enforcement tactics and their impact on families and students. The walkouts highlight the personal stakes for young people dealing with the threat of deportation of loved ones and the chilling effect ICE's presence has on school attendance and academic performance.

The details

As the students marched, they chanted "ICE out!" and shared personal stories of traumatic encounters with immigration enforcement in their communities and near school campuses. Tensions rose as protesters gathered outside a detention center, where ICE agents reportedly requested backup. The walkout was part of a broader wave of student demonstrations across Southern California in response to increased immigration enforcement nationwide.

  • The walkouts took place on Friday, February 14, 2026.
  • Earlier this week, about 200 students from several LA-area high schools staged a morning walkout over immigration enforcement.
  • Earlier this month, students marched in North Hollywood to protest immigration raids.
  • On January 30, high school students in LA and Orange counties participated in a "National Shutdown Day" calling for reduced ICE funding.

The players

Maria P.

A student in the Los Angeles public school system who joined the protest to honor her parents, who migrated from Mexico before she was born.

Los Angeles Unified School District

The school district that said it respects students' rights to express their views but expressed concern about safety during off-campus events, emphasizing that school campuses remain the safest place for students.

Los Angeles Police Department

The department that posted on X that a federal agent had been injured and that the Los Angeles Fire Department was responding, though further details were not released.

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What they’re saying

“They left Mexico to be out of danger. Now it seems like there is more danger here in the United States because of ICE's violence against innocent immigrants.”

— Maria P., Student (Xinhua)

“The mere presence of ICE officers near schools "has a chilling effect on students," discouraging attendance among those who fear that they or their family members could be at risk.”

— Anonymous teacher (Xinhua)

The takeaway

The student-led protests in Los Angeles highlight the deep personal impact of aggressive immigration enforcement on young people and their families, as well as the broader community concerns about the presence of ICE in immigrant neighborhoods and near schools. The walkouts reflect a growing movement among students to advocate for policies that protect immigrant rights and create safe spaces for all children, regardless of their immigration status.