GERMANTOWN, MD — Students from Seneca Valley High School staged a walkout on Thursday to protest the recent immigration enforcement actions by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
The “ICE Out” walkout occurred between the second and third periods, running from approximately 9:15 a.m. to 10:20 a.m., and was organized by juniors Michael and Suri.
After leaving the school, a large group of students gathered at the stadium concourse before returning to the cafeteria, where several speakers addressed the audience for about 20 minutes, discussing the local effects of increased immigration raids.
During the walkout, students chanted slogans such as “ICE has got to go” and “No ICE in our streets,” while many held signs demanding the removal of ICE. One sign read, “Families should be together,” while another proclaimed, “No one is illegal on stolen land.”
Jariane Martinez, the junior class president at Seneca Valley, shared with Patch that the walkout aimed to support immigrant communities. The speakers included students who have personally experienced the impact of ICE raids in the area.
“We want to demonstrate that as young individuals, we possess the power to instigate change in our community,” she remarked.
Martinez also leads the Students FAIR chapter at the school, a student-led organization dedicated to advocating for immigrant rights, which organized the walkout.
Prior to the event, safety measures were coordinated with school officials and the Montgomery County Police Department to ensure student safety, given the school’s location at a major intersection in Germantown.
Despite being primarily organized through word of mouth, the walkout attracted hundreds of participants.
“We hope this walkout illustrates that, as students, we may not have the same opportunities as adults to take action against injustices, but we are still here,” Martinez stated.
“We refuse to be misled by media narratives, especially since teenagers are often portrayed as passive consumers of information. We want to make it clear that we stand against ICE and support our immigrant peers and communities in Montgomery County. We are unafraid to voice our concerns.”
“We will not be silenced by adults, the media, or this administration.”
Jariane Martinez, president of the Seneca Valley High School Students FAIR chapter
“We will harness our collective power to ensure that everyone knows that Seneca Valley and the people of Montgomery County stand against ICE and the injustices they perpetrate.”
Recent months have seen a significant increase in reports of ICE operations in Montgomery County. Maryland hosts at least two ICE offices focused on removal operations.
Related: Baltimore Co. Council Approves Ban On ICE Detention Centers
Jonathan Outhwaite, a senior at Seneca Valley who spoke during the walkout, expressed hope that the students’ actions would convey their opposition to current policies and affirm that immigrants deserve rights and a place in the community.
In late January, the Montgomery County Public School system collaborated with local government officials following confirmed reports of ICE activities near Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, as reported by Bethesda Today. This confirmation followed a similar walkout at that school.
Following that incident, the Montgomery County Council unanimously approved legislation prohibiting local agencies from assisting in federal immigration raids and preventing discrimination based on immigration status, as well as restricting ICE’s access to county facilities.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore has also enacted emergency bills to ban agreements between ICE and local law enforcement.
