Hundreds of Chicago Students Join National School Walkout at Federal Plaza

Protesters rally against recent immigration enforcement actions and deportations

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Hundreds of students from Chicago-area high schools and colleges gathered at Federal Plaza on Friday to participate in a nationwide school walkout protesting recent immigration enforcement actions and deportations. The students, some carrying homemade signs, marched out of their classrooms and took public transportation to join the rally, which was organized by local activist groups. Participants expressed concerns about the impact of immigration crackdowns on their communities and a desire to make their voices heard on the issue.

Why it matters

The school walkouts reflect growing student activism around immigration policy, with young people taking action to protest deportations and show solidarity with immigrant communities. The protests also highlight tensions between school administrators and students over the right to engage in civic demonstrations during school hours.

The details

Hundreds of students from Chicago-area high schools and colleges, including Our Lady of Tepeyac High School, Columbia College, and the School of the Art Institute, gathered at Federal Plaza on Friday to participate in a nationwide school walkout. The students, some carrying homemade signs with slogans like "Nobody is illegal on stolen land," marched out of their classrooms and took public transportation to join the rally, which was organized by local activist groups. Participants expressed concerns about the impact of recent immigration enforcement actions and deportations on their communities, and a desire to make their voices heard on the issue.

  • On Friday afternoon, students left their classrooms to gather at Federal Plaza.
  • Earlier this week, hundreds of students from Proviso's three high schools marched near an ICE processing center.
  • On February 2, hundreds of North Side Chicago students walked out in solidarity with Minnesota and against the immigration crackdown.
  • On February 3, dozens of East Aurora High School students marched out in protest of ICE.

The players

Kendle Coleman

A 17-year-old senior at Our Lady of Tepeyac High School in Little Village who participated in the walkout.

Lauren Valice

A 28-year-old activist who helped organize the walkouts in roughly 11 Chicago high schools with the group Dare to Struggle.

Sophia Meade

A freshman at Columbia College who participated in the walkout.

Ethan Zaleski

A senior at John F. Kennedy High School who led a walkout of over 40 students at his school.

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What they’re saying

“Nobody is illegal on stolen land,”

— Kendle Coleman, senior at Our Lady of Tepeyac High School (Chicago Tribune)

“We called this nationwide walkout … because the first thing is being able to step up and fight ICE. We need to do that collectively,”

— Lauren Valice, activist with Dare to Struggle (Chicago Tribune)

“It felt very liberating. Because our teacher did it with us.”

— Sophia Meade, freshman at Columbia College (Chicago Tribune)

“It just sucks because a lot of people came here to make a life and to start a family here because the American dream existed. Now it feels like the American dream is dead.”

— Ethan Zaleski, senior at John F. Kennedy High School (Chicago Tribune)

The takeaway

The school walkouts demonstrate the growing activism and civic engagement of young people, who are using their voices to protest immigration policies they see as unjust and harmful to their communities. The protests also highlight the tensions between students' desire to participate in political demonstrations and the concerns of school administrators about disruptions to the school day.