Friday morning at Bountiful High School, several hundred students staged a walk-out protest against ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
The students gathered on the sidewalks at the front of the school, carrying signs and listening to prepared messages from student organizers. Those messages called out the policies and actions of President Donald Trump, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and the ICE organization itself.
Students chanted:
“Donald Trump, let’s be clear!
Immigrants are welcome here!”
and
“What do we want?
ICE out!
When do we want it?
Now!”
Cars driving by both honked in support and some heckled the protestors.
After their allotted time at the school was up, a large number of students took their protest to the street, marching all the way down to Main street in Bountiful, then even further to 500 West, carrying their signs and chanting all the way. Along the way several business owners and patrons came out to cheer in support.
Students’ Thoughts
We spoke with some of the students to ask their personal reasons for being there.
Several expressed that they had seen enough on the news and on social media, and they thought that the actions the government were taking were harsh and unfair.
One student said that she felt like it was time to decide which side of history she wanted to be on.
Others said they wanted to protest because of personal concerns, with members of their own family, their mothers, fathers, aunts and uncles, afraid to go outside, fearing they might be detained or deported unjustly.
Bountiful students weren’t the only ones protesting today. In addition to being joined by students from Viewmont High School, students all around the state walked out of their classes.
Bigger Picture
The protest follows a turbulent few weeks in US events. Over the past month, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has faced mounting scrutiny following a series of controversial enforcement actions, most notably in Minnesota. Two fatal encounters involving federal agents — the deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti — have intensified national concern over ICE’s tactics, use of force, and accountability.
Good was killed earlier in January during an enforcement operation, while Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, was shot and killed days later during protests tied to the federal immigration presence. The U.S. Department of Justice has since opened a civil rights investigation into Pretti’s death, citing conflicting accounts of what occurred.
The shootings have sparked widespread protests, public demonstrations, and official responses from local governments across the country. Some counties and city councils have formally condemned ICE’s actions, while others are reconsidering cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Nationally, the incidents have reignited debate over ICE’s role, training, and oversight, with growing calls for reform and increased transparency amid ongoing investigations and public backlash.
ICE in Utah
While the activity of ICE has not necessarily been a large topic in Utah, a report from the Utah News Dispatch says that the organization’s activity here has been increasing in recent years, particularly since the advent of the Trump administration.
Only a few days ago, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said she would do everything in her power to stand against what she called “deplorable” crackdowns by ICE.
