Conant High Students Walk Out to Protest Recent Deportations

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Key Takeaways

On February 7, 2025, about 50 Conant High students protested intensified immigration policies, reflecting direct impacts on immigrant communities.
President Trump removed “sensitive locations” protections on January 21, 2025, allowing ICE operations in schools and churches, fueling public fear.
The Conant High walkout is part of national student-led protests inspired by immigration policies, including birthright citizenship revocation efforts.

On February 7, 2025, around 50 students from Conant High School in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, staged a walkout to voice their concerns about deportations. The students left class during their final period, marching in front of the school to protest recent immigration enforcement measures. This demonstration reflects the growing unrest among young people over intensified immigration policies and their effects on immigrant communities.

This event at Conant High School comes as part of a wave of student-led protests across the United States. These protests are a response to the Trump administration’s more aggressive immigration enforcement actions, which include increased deportation efforts. Many students involved in these movements come from immigrant families or are personally affected by the immigration crackdown, adding urgency to their activism.

Conant High Students Walk Out to Protest Recent Deportations

The walkout at Conant High School mirrors earlier protests at schools across the country. Just one day prior, on February 6, 2025, about 500 students in the San Antonio Independent School District, Texas, also staged a walkout. These students marched to city hall, opposing a series of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and a recent executive order by President Donald Trump aimed at revoking birthright citizenship. The San Antonio students’ protest demonstrated the widespread concerns about how these policies target immigrant families and disrupt communities.

Background on Policy Changes Driving Protests

The protests at both Conant High School and elsewhere occur amid significant changes in U.S. immigration enforcement. On January 21, 2025, President Trump removed longstanding guidelines that had previously designated schools and churches as “sensitive locations.” These guidelines had prevented ICE agents from conducting operations on such premises. The removal of this policy has sparked fear among immigrant communities and advocates, who worry that enforcement actions may now directly impact areas traditionally considered safe spaces. Activism, such as the Conant High walkout, has grown in reaction to these developments.

At Conant High School, students made it clear that deportations are not just a political issue but a deeply personal one. Many protesting students likely have classmates, friends, or family members who may face the threat of deportation or have already been affected by these policies. Though specific demands from the Conant High demonstrators were not detailed, major themes from these protests often include calls for more humane immigration enforcement and protections for undocumented students and their families.

The school’s official response to the protest has not been provided, but situations like this often put school administrators in a tricky position. Students understandably want the freedom to express their views and protest peacefully, but schools are tasked with ensuring safety and maintaining order. For example, during the San Antonio protest, officials stated that leaving campus without permission constitutes a “level two offense” in the student discipline policy. The decision to discipline students is often left to individual administrators, highlighting the balancing act that schools must navigate in such circumstances.

Other Student-Led Actions Across the United States

The Conant High School walkout is one example of a broader trend of student protests against immigration policies. In East San Jose, California, hundreds of students from Overfelt High School walked out on January 28, 2025, citing concerns about deportation raids in nearby areas. This protest was reportedly triggered by ICE activity in local neighborhoods just days earlier. These events paint a picture of how deeply federal immigration policies ripple through communities and schools far from Washington, D.C.

In addition to school protests, youth-driven activism has expanded to broader community actions. In North Texas, for example, hundreds of people gathered on January 27, 2025, to protest deportations. The Fort Worth march was spearheaded by a young woman who used platforms like TikTok to rally participants. These efforts reflect the ability of social media to mobilize youth and create powerful movements focused on achieving social change.

The Impact on Students and Schools

The participation in protests highlights just how much young people are affected by immigration policies. For many students, these issues extend beyond abstract politics—they are personal. For instance, the San Antonio protest saw families openly preparing for worst-case scenarios. One 10th grader, Alex Calderilla, attended with her mother, Alejandra Huerta. The family had already created a plan in case ICE raids led to their separation. Alex’s story underscores the emotional and practical challenges faced by immigrant families under current policies.

Concerns also arise about how these enforcement measures intersect with education. An estimated 3,000 students in the San Antonio Independent School District alone are potentially undocumented, though the district does not collect data on students’ immigration status. Similar demographics likely exist in areas like Hoffman Estates, where Conant High School is located, meaning the impact of these policies is felt in schools nationwide. Students and their families worry that ICE actions could disrupt schools or create unsafe environments for learning.

However, schools remain bound by important legal protections for students. Under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), schools are prohibited from sharing a student’s private information without written consent or a court order. Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court decision Plyler v. Doe guarantees children access to public education regardless of their immigration status. These legal safeguards remain vital for protecting vulnerable students, even as federal policies shift.

Broader Implications of Youth Activism

The Conant High School walkout demonstrates how immigration policies affect not only adults but also young people who are often left out of political discussions. These protests give students a platform to remind policymakers that their decisions have direct and often unintended consequences on the lives of children, families, and communities.

While youth activism is not new, its role in immigration debates has grown in recent years. Protests—inspired by student leaders and amplified by tools like social media—show an increasing willingness among young people to fight for their rights and those of their families. The national conversation surrounding deportations and other immigration policies will likely continue to feature strong voices from students and youth.

For school administrators, these protests raise challenging questions about how to enable free expression while also ensuring educational goals are met. Protests like the one at Conant High School ask schools to find ways to respect students’ voices while preventing learning disruptions. Administrators must also consider how to approach disciplinary measures for students who leave campus.

Conclusion

The walkout by approximately 50 students at Conant High School on February 7, 2025, underscores the powerful intersection of immigration policies, education, and youth activism. Set against the backdrop of similar protests nationwide, the demonstration highlights the personal stakes for many young people and their families. With immigrant communities facing heightened scrutiny, actions like these represent an important response to current immigration policies.

As schools and communities grapple with the implications of these demonstrations, the voices of students are becoming harder to ignore. Whether through walkouts, marches, or online activism, young people are making it clear that immigration is not just a national issue—it is a local one, affecting them, their friends, and their families in profound ways. At the same time, questions about how schools handle these situations will continue to arise, as they balance the right to protest with the need to maintain a safe and structured educational environment.

The Conant High School walkout and its counterparts reflect the growing role of youth in immigration discussions. As future policies unfold, student activism will undoubtedly remain an active part of this conversation. To learn more about immigration laws or to stay updated on changing policies, readers can visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website at www.uscis.gov.

Learn Today

Deportation → The process of forcibly removing a person from a country, often due to legal or immigration violations.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) → A U.S. government agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws and conducting deportation operations.
Sensitive Locations → Designated places like schools or churches where immigration enforcement actions were traditionally limited or restricted.
Birthright Citizenship → The legal right to citizenship for all children born in a country regardless of their parents’ legal status.
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) → U.S. law preventing schools from sharing students’ private information without written consent or a court order.

This Article in a Nutshell

On February 7, 2025, 50 Conant High students walked out, protesting deportations and immigration policies. Their actions mirrored a national wave of youth-led activism. These protests reveal the personal toll of immigration enforcement, empowering young voices to challenge policies affecting their families. Students demand change, proving youth are powerful agents of social justice.
— By VisaVerge.com