Elmwood Park High School Students Stage Walkout, Join Nationwide Protests Against ICE
By Sara Lindsay, Deputy Editor
Approximately 40 students at Elmwood Park High School participated in a student walkout against United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on February 6.
The walkout was organized by students and promoted on social media in the days leading up to the protest. It began around 9:20 a.m. during “Tiger Time” announcements. Students exited the building, holding signs and blowing whistles as they left campus.
Three school staff members were present as students exited the building and monitored the walkout closely. Students were told that they would not be allowed to re-enter the school.
After leaving the campus, students walked back and forth along Fullerton Avenue, eventually continuing down Thatcher Avenue. The group was later spotted around Grand Avenue and Harlem Avenue, as they drew attention from passing traffic. They even received complimentary Dunkin’ Donuts.
A day before the walkout, Principal Amanda Brode-Rico notified parents that the school was aware of the planned protest and emphasized that it was “not a school-sponsored event.” The email also warned parents or guardians that students who chose to “participate in the walkout [would] be subject to standard attendance and academic consequences as well as behavioral accordance with the school policy.”
Brode-Rico was contacted for comment following the walkout but did not respond by the time of publication.
The Elmwood Park Advocate spoke to multiple students during the walkout. Each student was granted anonymity to speak due to fear of possible retaliation.
“Mary” said the walkout was not just about immigration policy but also about learning how to use their voices. “In school, we’re taught how to do math and find X,” the student said. “But we’re not taught how to stand up for ourselves or make ourselves heard. This is our country, and every single soul has a place in it.”
Another student, “Jennifer,” said that they participated because of the fear that immigration enforcement has created for families and young people. “ICE is terrorizing families everywhere,” they said. “It doesn’t matter where you’re from. People are being targeted, and kids my age and younger are being harmed. That’s not fair, and it shouldn’t be happening.”
The student walkout at the high school was one of hundreds of walkouts that have taken place at middle schools and high schools throughout the country. In particular, the wave of protests were organized in response to ICE agents killing Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis.
Students have disappeared from classrooms in the Twin Cities area after being detained. Some of the students have even been transferred hundreds of miles away.
In Chicago neighborhoods like Little Village, ICE has targeted high school students and created widespread fear among children.
For families in Elmwood Park, students often walk to school. Any nearby enforcement activity creates real fear for students and their families.
Jennifer also talked about the personal impact that immigration enforcement has had on their friends or peers. “Everyone is terrified,” they said. “There have been days when I’ve stayed late at school just to give people rides because they’re afraid to walk home. That’s a fear no teenager should have.”
Mary said the response felt inconsistent. “The school has shown some support but has also tried to distance itself as much as possible,” they said. “We were informed ahead of time that there would be consequences, and we were prepared for them. Do I think they’re fair? No. I don’t think students should be punished for using their freedom of speech.”
Although Mary had not personally experienced ICE enforcement, the issue still affects how safe they feel. “I’m a legal immigrant from Germany, and I want to be able to stay here safely. I don’t want to live in fear or see my friends, family, or community targeted. We’re all human, and we all deserve justice and freedom.”
In 2023, students staged a walkout after a student brought a loaded gun into the high school. Administrators notified students that if they left the building without permission there could be consequences—a warning similar to the one that Brode-Rico issued before the walkout against ICE.
News reporters were permitted to speak to students in 2023. In contrast, during the February 6 walkout, a high school staff member claimed that the newsletter was prohibited from talking to students and threatened to call the police.
It’s troubling to see such a stark contrast in how student expression is treated depending on the issue at hand. When students walked out in 2023 over an immediate safety threat (a loaded gun on campus) media access was allowed and student voices were respected. Yet during the February 6 walkout, students were met with threats of police involvement and restrictions on press engagement.
Regardless of where one stands politically, students have a right to express fear, concern, and solidarity, especially when policies and enforcement practices directly affect how safe they feel in their own community. Selectively limiting speech or press access sends a chilling message and undermines trust.
Schools should be places where young people are encouraged to engage critically with the world, not punished for doing so. Consistency, transparency, and respect for students voices matter - especially when those voices are calling for basic dignity and safety.
I’m glad you published the last sentence. And glad our students are standing up!