Schools Encouraging Political Protests: The Rise of Student Walkouts Over Immigration Enforcement
February 14, 2026
TULSA, OK — Student walkouts in Oklahoma have drawn public attention, as students across school districts are leaaving classes to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and federal immigration policies. According to news reports, students at East Central High School (Tulsa, OK) and Charles Page High School (Sand Springs, OK) staged demonstrations, carrying protest signs and chanting against “ICE” and actions associated with President Trump’s administration. At Charles Page, around 70 students marched off campus and held their protest for over two hours in downtown Sand Springs, chanting anti-ICE and anti-Trump slogans. Law enforcement on site described the crowd as “mostly calm.”
“They’ve got their signs up, and they’re shouting their anti-ICE, anti-Trump slogans. For the most part, they’re behaving,” — Sand Springs Police Captain Todd Enzbrenner
@GabeGWoolley on X
Oklahoma legislators have responded sharply. A group of Republican state senators, including Tom Woods, Julie McIntosh, Lonnie Paxton, and Brian Guthrie, sent a letter to the Oklahoma State Superintendent seeking disciplinary action not only against students who walked out but also against teachers they believe may have encouraged or facilitated the protests. The lawmakers claimed the walkouts were disruptive to learning and public safety, even as school districts said they did not sponsor or officially support the demonstrations.
Walkouts Not Limited to Oklahoma
Similar student-led protests have erupted across the country. In many cases, these protests are encouraged and enabled by teachers and administrators.
North Texas: Hundreds of students at Grand Prairie High School walked out and marched to City Hall chanting slogans such as “ICE Out,” carrying Mexican flags and holding signs like “We are skipping our lessons to teach you one.”
New York City: Students in Manhattan joined nationwide walkouts in opposition to ICE enforcement actions, amplifying demonstrations in urban centers.
Chicago & Suburbs: Students from Aurora and Lake View high schools participated in anti-ICE walkouts that drew media coverage as part of broader regional protest trends.
Virginia: Students at Rocktown and Harrisonburg High Schools organized walkouts “in support of immigrant families,” with school administrators publicly praising their civic engagement as a “living civics lesson.”
Vermont: Protests at South Burlington and Essex High School involved chants like “ICE out” and demonstrations reflecting solidarity with immigrant communities.
“INBOX: Steve Smith, the principal of Jefferson Middle School (@OKCPS), confirms in an email that there will be a planned anti-ICE student walkout occurring at his school on Friday, and that school staff will be offering GUIDANCE and DIRECTING the student protestors.
Your tax dollars are being spent on encouraging children to be far-left political activists who oppose law enforcement.” - @LibsofTikTok
“INBOX: Dave Helke, the principal for Eagle Ridge Middle School (@ISD191) in MN, sent out a message to families saying that he will NOT stop kids from leaving school to protest ICE, requires them to remain on school property, and will have staff supervising the protest.
Our schools have become left-wing activist centers.” - @LibsofTikTok
Florida & Central U.S.: Walkouts continued in Central Florida and Tampa Bay areas despite administrative warnings and potential disciplinary threats.
“INBOX: Students seen screaming and yelling at an anti-ICE protest held outside Union High School (@UnionSchools) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Meanwhile, here are the scores for this school: -Only 18% of students are proficient at reading -Only 30% are proficient at math -Only 21% are proficient in science. This is what our public education system has become.” - @LibsofTikTok
Jersey City, NJ: Students from four high schools marched to City Hall protesting ICE actions and chanting, “Hey, hey! Ho, ho! ICE has got to go!”
Albemarle County, VA: Hundreds of students from Albemarle High School and Monticello High School organized walkouts, expressing solidarity with immigrants even when the school district disavowed involvement.
The Broader Narrative: Youth Political Activism or School Indoctrination?
While many activists and students characterize these walkouts as expressions of civic engagement and solidarity, critics argue that the prevalence and coordination of such protests — especially during school hours — are symptoms of schools or community groups encouraging political activism rather than focusing on traditional academic instruction. The rapid spread of protests across states and districts has raised questions among some lawmakers and parents about whether educational environments are functioning as neutral spaces or as venues for political mobilization.
Opponents of the walkouts in Oklahoma, for instance, cite concerns about unexcused absences and potential legislative responses that would punish teachers alleged to have organized such events. Advocates, on the other hand, emphasize students’ constitutional rights and frame walkouts as critical civic participation.
Sources:
Oklahoma:
The Oklahoma Lion - Oklahoma Legislators and Freedom Groups Respond to Student Walkouts
KRMG Radio - Union, East Central, Charles Page Students Stage Walkouts to Protest ICE, Trump
KRMG Radio - East Central & Charles Page Held Student-Led Walkouts Protesting ICE, Trump
Reverend Jordan Wells on X - Video documentation of Oklahoma student walkouts
National:
KERA News - Grand Prairie High School Students Walk Out to Protest ICE, Immigration
ABC7 New York - NYC High School Students Walk Out to Protest ICE
ABC7 Chicago - Chicago-Area Students Walk Out of Class to Protest ICE
WHSV-TV - Harrisonburg Students Stage School Walkouts to Protest ICE
VTDigger - Vermont Students Protest ICE in Coordinated Walkouts
WUSF Public Media - Tampa Bay Students Protest ICE Despite Pushback From State Officials
Hudson County View - Students From 4 Jersey City High Schools Walk Out and March to Protest ICE
29News WVIR - Albemarle County High School Students Walk Out of Class to Protest ICE
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