On Feb. 17, 2026, Libertyville High School students gathered and walked around the town in protest of the Federal Government’s deportation enforcement and the tactics of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Gathered in the stadium field at the beginning of sixth period, students then walked through the streets of downtown, holding up signs and chanting messages calling for immigration reform and an end to mass deportation.
According to BBC, ICE is responsible for carrying out President Donald Trump’s mass deportation, a focal point of his election campaign. While this federal branch was founded in 2003, this administration has expanded ICE’s budget and mission in the recent year.
Agents have the jurisdiction to detain US citizens in limited circumstances, such as intervention with arrests, assaults on officers or under suspicion of illegal residence in the US. Nonetheless, according to ProPublica, which “reviewed every case [they] could find of agents holding citizens against their will,” over 170 of these incidents occurred in the first nine months of President Trump’s second administration.
After the fatal shootings of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, some Americans have started to speak out against ICE, including in our own community. Schools around the area have already staged their own walkout, daring to make their voices heard.
Following the national news, students at LHS have been ready to cause change. While the specific organizers responsible for planning the protest at LHS remain unclear among the student body, an Instagram post from @lhsnoice quickly circulated throughout student accounts, appearing on several stories. Currently, this post has over 240 likes, 32 reposts and 179 shares, showing the increased community interaction.
With many missing important classes, students prioritized fighting for constitutional rights that they believed were being infringed upon.
“I’m here because people who are US citizens are being deported like it’s nothing, and it’s totally unfair and unjust,” freshman Emma Darst said.
Enthusiastic about supporting this cause, many of the protesters were seen screaming “ICE out” or other invigorating chants. With messages on signs such as “Can’t be illegal on stolen land” and “We the people are pissed,” they hoped to make an impact.
“We think ICE is inhumane,” seniors Krista Apigo and Maya Raina said. “We do not agree with ICE and how they’re handling things and tearing up families.”
As they marched, several community members showed their support by honking their car horns and coming out with a sign of their own. Community members, like Denise, who did not share her last name, work at home for a medical supply company, and she was proud to see students taking a stand.
“I think it’s part of their constitutional rights—to protest, to have freedom of speech and to show their support,” Denise said. “You are our future—our leaders and voters. I’m really proud of you for standing up for your beliefs.”
However, other community members similarly presented their opposition. While none of them could be reached for comment, many community members were seen displaying signs of disdain, such as a thumbs down or other offensive hand gestures.
On Feb. 17, 2026, Principal Dr. Ray Albin sent an email notice to LHS parent informing them of this walkout.
“The school did not authorize the off-campus student-led walkout,” the email said. Students participating in the walk-out were marked absent by their sixth-period teacher. Both parents and students have access to their attendance information on PowerSchool.
Throughout the walk, the school administration was also seen around the streets of Libertyville, ensuring students’ safety at walkways and other potentially hazardous places.
As students returned to class, the walkout left behind a visible impact on the community. This demonstration highlighted how national immigration policies can influence local action, illustrating the ways students are engaging with civic issues and exercising their voices beyond the classroom.
