Hundreds of Chicago high school students walked out of their schools in a protest against President Donald Trump's deportation campaign, calling for federal immigration officers to leave the city. The students carried flags from Mexico, the U.S., and other countries, and chanted "fuera ICE" - "ICE out" in Spanish - as they marched through snowy streets.
The students, who attended schools including Mather, Northside College Prep, Roosevelt, Amundsen, and Von Steuben, were demanding an end to aggressive federal immigration enforcement tactics. They argued that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency was targeting people based on their color, language, or national origin.
Angelique Guzman, a student at Mather High School, said she had nightmares about her father being detained by Trump's immigration agents when he was going through the process to obtain legal permanent residency. She fears that her family is still vulnerable because they are Hispanic and only speak Spanish.
Krystal Portilla, a senior at Amundsen High School, also spoke out against the deportation campaign, saying she had nightmares about Trump detaining her father. She felt alone when federal immigration agents showed up in Chicago last year but was uplifted by support from her peers.
The students are calling on young people to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming congressional midterm elections. They want more people to speak out against the deportation campaign and demand that federal immigration officers leave the city.
Similar protests took place in other states, including Indiana and Texas, as a growing chorus of voices demand the abolishing of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. The students' actions are part of a broader movement to push back against Trump's immigration policies and advocate for more inclusive and compassionate approaches to border control.
The students, who attended schools including Mather, Northside College Prep, Roosevelt, Amundsen, and Von Steuben, were demanding an end to aggressive federal immigration enforcement tactics. They argued that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency was targeting people based on their color, language, or national origin.
Angelique Guzman, a student at Mather High School, said she had nightmares about her father being detained by Trump's immigration agents when he was going through the process to obtain legal permanent residency. She fears that her family is still vulnerable because they are Hispanic and only speak Spanish.
Krystal Portilla, a senior at Amundsen High School, also spoke out against the deportation campaign, saying she had nightmares about Trump detaining her father. She felt alone when federal immigration agents showed up in Chicago last year but was uplifted by support from her peers.
The students are calling on young people to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming congressional midterm elections. They want more people to speak out against the deportation campaign and demand that federal immigration officers leave the city.
Similar protests took place in other states, including Indiana and Texas, as a growing chorus of voices demand the abolishing of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. The students' actions are part of a broader movement to push back against Trump's immigration policies and advocate for more inclusive and compassionate approaches to border control.