Hundreds of Albuquerque students walk out of schools in protest of Trump, ICE

Hundreds of students staged a walkout at several schools across Albuquerque on Tuesday in protest of immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump.

The nationwide "Free America Walkout" saw students at six Albuquerque Public Schools campuses leave their classes, according to a statement from the district. The students walked out at 2 p.m. in protest of recent actions taken by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

Students at Manzano, Highland, Sandia, Albuquerque High, Del Norte and Eldorado high schools joined in the walkout.

In an official statement, APS said the district “does not sponsor or encourage walkouts, but we understand that some students felt compelled to take part in today’s national protest.” 

APS said school principals reached out to families to let them know about the planned walkout and "encourage them to talk with their children about making safe, respectful choices."

The Women’s March, one of the national organizations behind the walkout, scheduled the event to fall on the one-year anniversary of Donald Trump's second inauguration and urged participants to "walk out to block the normal routines of power and make the stakes real."

In response to the protests, state GOP Chair Amy Barela said in a statement, “The only thing ICE is doing is removing the worst criminals imaginable from our country who happen to be here illegally, thanks to Democrat leadership."

"After one year, the Trump Administration has made undeniable progress combating crime, drugs, illegal immigration, has ended foreign conflicts all around the world, and has made life better in our country,” according to the statement.

At Eldorado High School, roughly 200 students held a different perspective and left classes early to hold a protest at Montgomery and Juan Tabo, just down the street from the school.

"We’re using our right to freedom of assembly and freedom of protest to show people how we feel about these issues that are very important in our lives," said Eldorado student Isabel Arenas.

The student who organized the walkout at Eldorado said, “People our age need to start getting into the groove of things and working on it because it’s our world that we’re inheriting.”

The rally also landed on the first day of the state legislative session, which some students incorporated into their messages. 

"I’m participating today to advocate for the Immigrant Safety Act to be passed," said student protester Kyle Kiefer, referring to a bill that limits public entities from working with immigration enforcement, calling it "a good step in the right direction."

"I hope it shows that as a generation, the majority of us are trying to make the world a better place and not just stand by and watch this inequality be spread," said student protester Takeo Moya.

Some students brought signs and flags with them, and many others improvised, writing messages on notebooks, old calendars and clothing. 

“My sign here says, 'I should feel safe at school,' but I don’t,” said Eldorado student Joshua Burwinkle.

The main concerns of Eldorado students were immigration and the recent action of ICE officers, and many students sought to express their opinions publicly.

“We’re using the First Amendment to show we still have our rights, we’re not gonna let you take anything away, no matter who you are, no matter what you do,” said Eldorado student Tristyn Hamner.

In total, the protests at Eldorado lasted around two hours, dispersing when the school day ended. 

Peyton Jackson is a student at Eldorado High School