A large number Elgin High School students staged a lunchtime walkout march Wednesday to protest the deaths of two people in Minneapolis and other actions at the hands of federal immigration agents.

“It’s sad to know that they’ve been pulling people off the street based on the color of their skin and without due process. It’s racist,” senior Mohammed Gambari, 17, said. “And of the people they’ve detained and deported, around 80% have no criminal record.”

Gambari walked with fellow seniors Kamron Adams, 17, and Esmerelda Alfaro, 18, at the end of a long line of student protesters who left the 1200 Maroon Drive school campus to walk along busy East Chicago Street before returning to campus.

This is one of many signs carried by Elgin High School students during a school walkout Wednesday to protest actions being taken by federal agents as part of U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement efforts to detain undocumented immigrants. (Mike Danahey/The Courier-News)

The three estimated at least 80% of the 2,300 students enrolled at the school took part in march, which covered several miles.

In a prepared statement, School District U-46 administration said the walkout was initiated by students who wanted to express their views about an issue that is important to them. They were asked to abide by the district’s policy regarding student demonstrations and parents were notified and encouraged to have “family conversations about respectful expression, civic engagement and making responsible choices while at school,” the statement said.

Students who missed a class while participating were cited as being absent or tardy, U-46 officials said.

In addition to protesting the actions of federal agents, the event was also meant to show of support for area families directly impacted by the campaign launched by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Alfaro said her uncle was taken into custody in November while he was en route to his job and deported to Mexico.

The Elgin protest was inspired by a similar event held Monday at Streamwood High School, the three students said. There reportedly are walkouts planned at District U-46’s South Elgin High School and Larkin High School in Elgin, all being organized through word of mouth, email and social media, they said.

Elgin High School students walk along East Chicago Street in a staged school walkout Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2026, to protest actions being taken by U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement in detaining undocumented immigrants. (Mike Danahey/The Courier-News)

Some of those involved in the Elgin march chanted “ICE out” while others carried signs with messages that included “Immigrants made America” and “ICE, congrats, you solved absolutely nothing.”

Elgin police were present to ensure students stayed on sidewalks and were safe while crossing streets. Many drivers honked their horns in solidarity.

On the north side of the 900 block of East Chicago, a small group of adults stood to watch and offer support.

“My daughter is a freshman at Elgin. I drove down here and decided to stop and watch,” said one mother, who asked not to be identified. “I’m here because everybody’s a friend, everybody’s family.”

Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/04/elgin-high-students-walkout-protest-ice/