Napa students protest federal immigration operations

Thousands of high school and middle school students in Napa, California walked out of class to demonstrate against ICE and Trump's immigration policies.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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For Napa High School freshman Jovannia Barrientos and Vintage High School sophomore Reina De Haro, the student-led walkout protest against federal immigration enforcement was deeply personal. Barrientos' father was detained by immigration authorities when she was in first grade and eventually self-deported to Mexico, while De Haro was initially "a little scared" to propose the walkout before gaining confidence. The protest, which drew thousands of students from Napa’s five high schools and some local middle schools, was monitored by Napa police but remained peaceful.

Why it matters

The Napa student protest highlights growing activism among young people against the Trump administration’s immigration policies and the actions of federal agencies like ICE. The demonstration reflects the personal impact these policies have had on students’ families and communities, and their desire to speak up and take action.

The details

The walkout was organized by Barrientos and De Haro, who proposed the idea and then saw it grow as other schools joined. An organizer from Justin-Siena High School, a 17-year-old junior, also got involved despite their father’s opposing views. Napa High student Elmer Mendoza sold burritos at the protest, which was his first time participating in a demonstration. Police monitored the gathering but did not intervene, with one student saying he wasn’t scared because they "weren’t doing anything bad."

  • The walkout took place on Friday, February 6, 2026.

The players

Jovannia Barrientos

A 14-year-old freshman at Napa High School who co-organized the walkout protest. Her father was detained by immigration authorities when she was in first grade and eventually self-deported to Mexico.

Reina De Haro

A 15-year-old sophomore at Vintage High School who co-organized the walkout protest, initially feeling "a little scared" to propose the idea before gaining confidence.

Elmer Mendoza

A 14-year-old Napa High School student who sold burritos at the protest, which was his first time participating in a demonstration.

Josephine Bethard

A 15-year-old Justin-Siena High School student who participated in the walkout, having been involved in protests before and believing civil protest is important.

Elba Marquez Rodriguez

The mother of two students participating in the walkout, a 17-year-old senior and a 15-year-old freshman, who said she was proud of her daughters for taking part despite her mixed emotions about the potential risks.

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What they’re saying

“It's hard seeing my mom and my grandma struggle so much, doing everything they can for us without my dad being here.”

— Jovannia Barrientos, Napa High School freshman (The Press Democrat)

“It's a little scary, but walking out of school makes a bigger statement. After talking to my teachers and admin and knowing it was allowed, it gave me more confidence to go through with it.”

— Reina De Haro, Vintage High School sophomore (The Press Democrat)

“I don't think we were doing anything bad and there's no reason to be scared.”

— Elmer Mendoza, Napa High School student (The Press Democrat)

“At least you are showing that you care, throughout history we've seen so much hate and division. We see these things happen and choose to do nothing during events like the holocaust or what's happening in Palestine and until people make a stand and fight against these people in power nothing will change.”

— Josephine Bethard, Justin-Siena High School student (The Press Democrat)

“Your conduct and behavior are a window to what you're trying to represent. They are American-born, but they have pride in their culture and where their parents came from. It's easier to shrink when everything around you is telling you to be afraid. I can't let my fear hold them back.”

— Elba Marquez Rodriguez, Mother of two student protesters (The Press Democrat)

The takeaway

The Napa student protest highlights the growing activism among young people against the Trump administration’s immigration policies and the personal impact these policies have had on students’ families and communities. The demonstration reflects the students’ desire to speak up, take action, and make their voices heard on this important issue.