UO Students Protest for ICE Alerts and Latino Cultural Center

Protesters demand university take action to support undocumented immigrant students

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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University of Oregon students and community members gathered on campus to protest federal immigration enforcement actions and call on the university to implement changes, including using the campus alert system to notify students if ICE agents come on campus and creating a Latino cultural center as a safe space for Hispanic students.

Why it matters

The protest highlights ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and undocumented immigrant communities, as well as the role universities can play in supporting and protecting vulnerable student populations.

The details

Students and community members gathered at the UO administration building, pushing for the university to use its alert system to notify the campus if ICE agents come on campus, as well as to build a Latino cultural center as a safe space for Hispanic students. The protest was part of a larger 'Day Without an Immigrant' movement, with community members abstaining from work and shopping.

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

The players

Yuliza Chavez

A UO freshman student who has two immigrant parents and plans to become an immigration attorney.

Issak Ordaz

The co-chair of UO's Young Democratic Socialists of America, which collaborated with other student union groups to organize the protest.

Robert O.

A community member who participated in the protest, stating that universities should offer safety and stability for students as they will be the ones to carry society into the future.

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What they’re saying

“It makes me feel good that there's people here in Eugene that support the cause. I feel like I'm first generation, I'm also the oldest. I feel like with a lot of things in life, I felt like I was the one paving the path for myself so when I came to U of O I realized there was people here that supported the cause and that makes me feel really emotional and really supported.”

— Yuliza Chavez, UO Student (KVAL)

“The demands of the campaign we're launching today are, one, for UO to use their alert system to notify students, notify the campus community, if ICE comes on campus, on top of that we're also asking them to ensure that they do actually build a Latino cultural system as a safe space for Hispanic students on campus.”

— Issak Ordaz, Co-chair, UO's Young Democratic Socialists of America (KVAL)

“I think that universities - especially centers for education, centers for learning - should offer that safety, that stability, for those students because they are going to be the ones to carry us into the next century.”

— Robert O. (KVAL)

What’s next

The university has not yet responded to the protesters' demands, but it is expected that they will need to address the issues raised in the coming days and weeks.

The takeaway

This protest highlights the ongoing challenges faced by undocumented immigrant students and the role universities can play in supporting and protecting vulnerable populations on campus. The demands for ICE alerts and a Latino cultural center reflect the need for universities to be proactive in creating safe and inclusive environments for all students.