Hundreds of Palm Beach County students walk out in anti-ICE protests

Demonstrations turned tense with one student hit by a car and police intervening in a heated argument.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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Hundreds of students across Palm Beach County walked out of class on Monday to protest against ICE policies, with some demonstrations turning tense. One student was hit by a car near Palm Beach Lakes High School, and police had to intervene in an argument near Lake Worth Beach Community High School. Despite some backlash from drivers, the student protesters stood their ground to make their voices heard.

Why it matters

The student-led walkouts highlight growing concerns among younger generations about immigration enforcement policies and a desire to take political action, even facing potential consequences like detention slips for leaving campus.

The details

The protests involved students chanting, holding posters, and marching in the streets. At one protest near Palm Beach Lakes High School, a minor was hit by a car, which police are now investigating. At another protest near Lake Worth Beach Community High School, police had to intervene in a heated argument between students and drivers. Despite some backlash, the student protesters remained determined to make their voices heard.

  • The protests took place on Monday, February 17, 2026.

The players

Faith Walters

A sophomore at Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts who participated in the protests, stating that she wanted to fight for people being "illegally taken" and that younger generations often feel overlooked in political discussions.

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What they’re saying

“I wanna fight for these people that are being illegally taken”

— Faith Walters, Sophomore (wptv.com)

“Usually adults go over us and are like— you're just kids. So, I was like a protest would be great cause like we get to go out there and tell people how we feel.”

— Faith Walters, Sophomore (wptv.com)

“There were a couple of people that were like arguing with us or like fighting against us but we were like back off.”

— Faith Walters, Sophomore (wptv.com)

“I'm willing to take this risk. It feels great that so many groups of students are coming altogether from all different schools at different times just all coming out. Just to like, make a voice, and take a stand for these people.”

— Faith Walters, Sophomore (wptv.com)

What’s next

The West Palm Beach police are investigating the incident where a student was hit by a car near Palm Beach Lakes High School.

The takeaway

The student-led protests in Palm Beach County highlight the growing political engagement and activism of younger generations, who are using walkouts and demonstrations to voice their concerns about immigration enforcement policies, even in the face of potential consequences.