About 200 Sanger High students walk out over ICE deportations

Police patrol nearby as students protest immigration enforcement actions

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Approximately 200 students from Sanger High School in California walked out of class on Friday to protest ICE deportations. The Sanger Police Department had officers patrolling the area to maintain safety, as the student protest took place off campus at Sanger Park. The school district had warned students that leaving campus during the instructional day could result in truancy and disciplinary consequences.

Why it matters

Student walkouts over immigration enforcement actions have become more common in recent years, as young people seek to voice their concerns about the impacts of deportations on their communities. This protest highlights the tensions between students' desire for civic engagement and schools' need to maintain order and safety during the instructional day.

The details

The student protesters gathered at Sanger Park, located at the intersection of Academy Avenue and 5th Street, after leaving the Sanger High School campus. About 50 students from the nearby Washington Academic Middle School also joined the walkout. The Sanger Police Department monitored the protest to ensure there were no incidents, and the school district had warned that adults encouraging students to leave campus could face misdemeanor charges.

  • The student walkout took place on Friday, February 13, 2026.
  • The protest occurred during the school day, with students leaving campus between 2nd and 3rd periods.

The players

Sanger High School

A public high school located in Sanger, California, where the student walkout took place.

Sanger Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that patrolled the area near the student protest to maintain safety and order.

Sanger Unified School District

The school district that oversees Sanger High School and had warned students that leaving campus during the instructional day could result in truancy and disciplinary consequences.

Washington Academic Middle School

A nearby middle school where about 50 students also joined the walkout protest.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Reminder: Students should remain on campus during the school day and express their views in safe, appropriate ways.”

— Sanger Police Department (kmph.com)

“Adults who encourage or assist minors in leaving campus during instructional hours, in violation of the Education Code, may face misdemeanor charges under California Penal Code section 272.”

— Sanger Police Department (kmph.com)

“While the walkout itself is not a school-sponsored activity, Sanger High School is committed to honoring student voices in a safe and structured environment.”

— Jon Tillotson, Principal, Sanger High School (kmph.com)

What’s next

The Sanger Police Department and Sanger Unified School District have stated they will continue working together to protect student safety and maintain a safe school environment during the protest.

The takeaway

This student walkout highlights the ongoing tensions between schools' need to maintain order and students' desire for civic engagement on important social and political issues. The response from school and law enforcement authorities underscores the challenges of balancing these competing priorities.