Within the first few days of his presidency, Donald J. Trump began issuing executive orders and pledging the biggest deportation of immigrants in U.S. history. 

 In response to these policies, students participated in two walkouts on February 6 and February 20 protesting Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, a federal law enforcement agency under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

According to the agency’s website, their official mission is to “protect America through criminal investigations and enforcing immigration laws to preserve nation security and public safety.”

Word quickly spread about the February 6 walkout via Instagram. An account was created in order to share information and instruct students.

According to a post shared by the account @vhs_for_student_liberation, the purpose of the walkout was to “show the strength of communities, to defend and protect when rights are systematically taken away, and to manifest change.”

A participant in the student-led walkout, junior Gilbert Lopez, a co-president M.E.Ch.A de Venice with junior Marina Aguayo, said on the day of the walkouts administration closed all the gates surrounding the campus but still let students walk through the front doors in the main building. 

According to Lopez, Venice students were encouraged to stage the walkout once news broke that other schools were participating. 

Other walkouts occurred at schools like Animo Venice Charter, Hamilton High, Malibu High, Santa Monica High, and University High.

 “School has always been a safe place for people of color and people of immigrant parents. We should do our best to keep it that way,” Lopez said. 

Two emotions that stood out to Lopez on the day of the walkout were anger and hatred. 

“There was a lot of built up rage, not only from Hispanics but from people of different backgrounds,” he said. “Students were getting out everything they’ve experienced like backlash and discrimination because of where they come from.”

Lopez was proud of the protest and the many first-time protestors. 

“It gave students an amount of expression that helped them find comfort to fight for what they think is right.”

 The Trump administration has officially revoked a long-standing policy that prevented ICE from targeting sensitive locations. This gives ICE the ability to now raid locations such as schools, daycares, hospitals, work places, churches along with events like funerals, weddings, and public demonstrations. 

 However, school administrators do not have to let ICE into their campuses without a warrant and school officials are not allowed to reveal the immigration status of a particular student.

 In a statement released last month, Los Angeles Unified School Police (LASPD) said that it “will not assist or engage in immigration compliance checks, immigration enforcement activity, or ICE related task force operations.” 

In late January, bright red pocket-sized cards that share rights and information related to what one should do if they encounter ICE were made available around campus. They were created by the Immigrant Legal and Resource Center.

Assistant Principal Ernesto Gurrero, who primarily works with student support, said administration’s biggest concern during the walkout was student safety. 

During the walkout campus aides did their best to keep students out of harm’s way by keeping them on sidewalks and from going into the street. 

“We believe in the right of students to protest as long as they do it in a safe and respectful manner,” Gurrero said. “Students were standing on the bus stop, and that’s not safe.” 

However, campus aides did not interfere with the students protesting. Lopez said students were very respectful during protests and all the support from people passing by was encouraging. 

“School is a place of comfort and should be safe for people with different backgrounds. We should have a plan of action if immigration were to come to school so that students can feel safe,” Lopez said.

Venice students also participated in a second walkout February 20. 

According to a post made by @vhs_for_student_liberation, the second walkout was in order to urge Venice’s administration to “make a clear statement on whether or not they will actively protect undocumented students.”

Efforts are being made in order to inform staff about what they are able to do if ICE were to come onto campus. 

Spanish teacher Maria Lopez Zamudio believes it’s important for every community member to really understand what their rights are.

District presentations and meetings have been held for staff and parents as a way to communicate district policy when it comes to immigration enforcement.

In addition, multiple forms have been given to teachers with ICE protocols and responsibilities of school administration.

These forms provide information on what staff should do if they come onto campus, what to say if ICE is looking for a student, what rights staff and students have, etc. 

“We are in the process of working with Ms. Lopez Zamudio to find a way to communicate this information [immigration policies] to students as well,” Guerrero said. 

Many educators promise to protect their students during these tough times.

“There’s so many different identities that exist within our community. It would be up to those that have privilege and power to use their citizenship and their strength within,” Lopez Zamudio said. 

Lopez Zamudio said she believes administrators should take a stand and say ICE won’t come into their classrooms, they will choose to protect their students. 

According to Gurrero, the administration will do everything within their power to ensure students at Venice are safe and secure within the constraints of the law. 

“My commitment to students is that we are going to keep them as safe as we would with any other student, because that’s our role,” he said.

Kimberly Chavez contributed to this piece