Rural and suburban students respond to ICE

The following column originally appeared in a number of APG of East Central Mn newspapers during January and February, 2026. This included Aitken Daily Independent,  Faribault Daily News,  Dakota Country Tribune,   MilleLacs Messenger,  Sun Sailor, Sun This Week,   Monticello Times,  Union Times, County News Review,  ABC Newspapers,

Rural and suburban students respond to ICE

Their signs reflect humor, creativity and passion of youth: “Fight ignorance, not immigration,” “Books not Bars.”

They are Minnesotan youngsters who are questioning and challenging what they see happening to some of their friends, classmates and families. Regardless of one’s views on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in Minnesota, the fact that young people are respectfully speaking up is appropriate and encouraging.

The signs mentioned were part of a demonstration led by Owatonna High School students. The school’s principal, Kory Kath, emphasized that the school was neutral on issues students raised. “There was a passionate group of students that was objecting to how ICE was carrying out their duties within communities,” Kath said. “They sent out a notice on social media to other students. They outlined how students could be involved in a peace way in raising their voice.”

Kath told me that the demonstration took place Jan. 14, near the end of the school day. Their absence was considered unexcused. They were not allowed to participate in that day’s after-school activities. They were reinstated the following day. In some instances they were allowed to make up work that they missed. Between 150 and 200 students participated out of approximately 1,400 enrolled.

Kath explained that the only question he received from community members was whether the school sponsored the demonstration. “The answer was no,” he said.

“It was student driven and student led,” Kath said. “Students were very respectful of our expectations as a school. That was very pleasant to see.”

Photos courtesy of Owatonna Peoples Press

There’s more about the Owatonna demonstration in this article by Lauren Viska.

Faribault High School students also recently demonstrated against ICE. Principal Nate Molitor, emphasized that the school respects the students’ First Amendment rights, remains neutral and is giving students a chance to make up the work they missed in the 30 minutes they were out of school. He estimated that about 150 to 200 students out of the school’s roughly 900 participated. Their signs included “Immigrants built America” and “What you allow is what will continue.” There’s more about the Faribault demonstration in Chloe Kucera’s story:

Photo courtesy of Faribault Daily News

Farther north, Cambridge-Isanti students recently walked out of their school. District officials provided a statement noting: “The walkout was student-led and was not planned, organized, or endorsed by Cambridge-Isanti Schools or Cambridge-Isanti High School. The district remained neutral regarding the purpose or message of the demonstration. School administrators and staff focused solely on student safety and maintaining normal school operations for those who remained on campus.”

Students missed “roughly the final two hours of the school day,” the statement said. “Some students missed class as a result of leaving campus. Some students may have been leaving campus for Postsecondary Enrollment Options college coursework as part of their regular schedule. Students who left campus without parent or guardian permission were marked unexcused absent in accordance with district policy and the student handbook. Per policy, unexcused absences are not eligible for make-up work.”

The district’s statement concluded that its role “was limited to ensuring safety and supervision for all students and staff while on school property. Students were not encouraged to participate or discouraged from leaving, and the decision to participate was made by students themselves.”

I also asked some young people who are actively trying to change public policies for their thoughts. Kyle Chen of Eagan High School told me: “Young people can be as informed and engaged in policy as adults are. Our voice is essential to democracy.”

Jaiden Leary, a 2025 graduate of St. Louis Park High School who is helping lead students’ efforts, responded: “In this time of turmoil for our country, and for Minnesota, pushing for young people to be leaders – and not just any leaders but the right type of leaders – is exactly how we get out of this situation.”

What I heard from educators and students suggests to me that these schools are doing what the Cambridge-Isanti district home page promotes : “Educate. Empower. Inspire.”

Joe Nathan, PhD, was formerly a Minnesota public school educator, researcher and PTA president. Reactions welcome, joe@centerforschoolchange.org