The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE, has been dominating the news and our neighborhoods. From violent raids to controversial shootouts, ICE has faced significant backlash for good reason. Their organization claims that its purpose is to protect public safety; however, the question remains: have they been living up to this motto?
As students of LVA, we are all part of a diverse community, which is why ICE is such a hotly debated topic among our youth. A major protest against ICE took place at LVA on January 21st, highlighting the substantial impact injustice has had on our campus. However, this protest wasn’t exclusive to only LVA students; CCSD schools across the valley participated in walkouts to remove ICE from Las Vegas. Students from Western, Cheyenne, Canyon Springs, and more joined in on the speak-out against this group.
In an interview from KTNV News, Las Vegas student Jose Cardenas stated, “I feel like it was right and they were doing the right thing since, you know, ICE has been taking a lot of people away, and I don’t feel like it’s right and taking and separating families.” ICE is infamous for breaking apart families in non-rightful ways, leaving children without a home. Because this organization has affected this specific age group, students are now fighting and targeting ICE back as a symbol of defiance against their inhumane practices.
These in-school protests also aim to combat the many raids that are conducted by ICE within schools. According to an article from The Guardian, ICE shows no mercy even towards young children, as evidenced by the case of Liam Conejo Ramos, a five-year-old student who was detained in Minneapolis, Minnesota. While arresting parents and breaking familial bonds is concerning enough, entering schools to detain minors themselves represents a whole new level of severity.
No matter how much ICE may claim to act for the benefit of the community, their violent approaches do more harm than good. By dividing families and instilling fear in schools, today’s youth will not stand for it. Though their voices may seem small and inferior, a united group can make a difference and put an end to ICE’s cruel ways.
