Nationwide general strike leads to ICE Out protests, school and business closures across metro Denver

Demonstrators joined the national 'no work, school, or shopping' campaign to protest federal immigration enforcement actions

Jan. 30, 2026 at 1:47pm

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Demonstrators across metro Denver joined the national ICE Out campaign – 'no work, school, or shopping' – that spread across several cities Friday as Americans protested their federal government's enforcement of immigration law in Minnesota. Teacher absences forced schools to delay and cancel classes, dozens of restaurants and cafes closed, and athletes spoke out against recent ICE-related incidents.

Why it matters

The demonstrations were the latest amid widespread outrage following the fatal shootings of two individuals by Border Patrol and ICE agents, heightening concerns over the Trump administration's tactics in enforcing immigration laws. The protests disrupted daily life across Denver, reflecting the deep divisions and tensions around federal immigration enforcement.

The details

Across metro Denver, teacher absences forced schools to delay and cancel classes, with over 1,000 teachers and staff calling in absent in the Denver Public Schools district. More than a dozen Denver-area restaurants also planned to close on Friday, with other restaurants donating a percentage of profits to local immigrant rights organizations. Professional athletes, including Denver Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz and Nuggets forward Cam Johnson, also spoke out against the recent ICE-related incidents on social media.

  • On Saturday, Border Patrol agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, in Minneapolis.
  • On January 7, an ICE officer shot and killed Renee Good, a mother of three born and raised in Colorado.

The players

Alex Pretti

An intensive care nurse who was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis after they tackled him to the ground while he was filming Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions.

Renee Good

A mother of three born and raised in Colorado who was shot and killed by an ICE officer as she tried to move her vehicle.

Quinn Meinerz

A Denver Broncos football guard who called for the abolition of ICE on his Instagram.

Cam Johnson

A Denver Nuggets basketball forward who decried the "utterly senseless acts of violence" against Pretti and Good on social media.

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What’s next

Colorado's U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper have demanded ICE reforms as part of a proposed government spending package to avert a partial federal government shutdown, and Denver officials have joined an amicus legal brief supporting Minnesota's lawsuit challenging ICE operations.

The takeaway

The nationwide ICE Out protests in Denver and across the country reflect the deep divisions and tensions around federal immigration enforcement, with many Americans expressing outrage over the recent use of lethal force by Border Patrol and ICE agents. The disruptions to schools, businesses, and daily life underscore the strength of the movement to challenge the Trump administration's immigration policies.