Close to one thousand Roseville Area High School students walked out of their third hour on Monday, January 12th. Organized by juniors Ariel Jimenez, Theo Burrell, and Ayan Jabril, this Anti-ICE walkout had a large impact on RAHS students.
In lieu of the shooting of Renee Nicole Good, students helped to organize the second school walkout of the 2025-2026 school year to protest and speak out against how ICE (or Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has affected the State and the Roseville Community. Organizer Ariel Jimenez said, “Roseville students wanted to speak up as a school to tell ICE, ‘we don’t want you guys terrorizing our students, we don’t want you guys terrorizing our parents…you guys can leave’”. To Jimenez, walking out means unity and togetherness.
Other Roseville students felt this way during the walkout as well. “Immigrants make America…whatever we can do to stop [ICE], we must do it united,” said 11th grader Aryana Berhane.
Junior Naiomi Bretz added, “this is supposed to be the land of the free…we need to unite and stand for what is right.”
Another Junior, Lian —, said, “I’m really happy that everybody’s here to stand up for what’s right.”
RAHS students walked out of their classes to Grace Church where junior Annabelle Muzzy made a moving speech. Afterwards, Muzzy said, “I’ve seen everything online and I really wanted to take a stand and use my voice…I hope people can hear it and I hope people listen.”
It’s more important now than ever for young people to use their voices. Students stood proudly on the bridge running over Highway 36 and shouted anti-ICE chants. Many students proudly held signs out to the cars passing underneath. Written in Spanish, one student’s sign read, “The criminals are not the immigrants, it’s the one in the white house”. Senior Kiona Diez expressed her feelings about ICE’s policies. “You are not human if you don’t recognize those who do not look like you as human.”
Senior Logan Dam expressed their fear for their family. “I am a child of an immigrant…he came here hoping for a better life. There’s no reason ICE should even be here. There’s nothing dangerous about my dad.”
Other students are very afraid for their parents and family members. One anonymous student said, “My mom hasn’t been going to work because of what’s been going on. She doesn’t feel safe…Don’t hurt the people that work hard and are trying to do something for their family.”
Burrell expressed concern for ICE’s presence. “Theres a lot of kids that are not coming to school due to the fact that ICE has basically taken over Minnesota.”
It’s important to Burrell and Jabril to show their anger and frustration towards ICE while organizing this walkout. “I have to FaceTime my dad going to and from school,” said Jabril. She also encouraged students to continue to take action and participate in elections, other protests, and local community events.
