Article by: Nakeria Woods, Contributing Writer

Justice. Liberation. Democracy. Solidarity. Dignity. These were the themes claimed by the student protestors during the campus walkout against the United States’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) that happened on January 27, 2026. The walkout was held in response to recent events that have happened specifically in Minnesota and to the general increase in ICE activity nationally. The deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minnesota, as well as by Keith Porter Jr. in California, at the hands of ICE agents, have galvanized mass resistance in various cities and a strike in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Other incidents, such as the case of Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-year-old who was detained by ICE, have also contributed to this widespread outrage.

With a crowd of around one hundred people, the walkout featured various chants, signs, and speakers. Some notable chants were “Up, up with liberation, down down with deportation,” “Power to the people, no human is illegal,” and “Say it once, say it twice, we will get rid of ICE.” There were even some chants in Spanish, such as “El pueblo unido jamás será vencido,” which translates to “The people united will never be defeated.” This specific chant comes from a Chilean protest song composed by Sergio Ortega Alvarado. 

Many participants brought signs that portrayed various messages opposed to ICE’s actions. Messages like “Families over fear” emphasized the need for solidarity and community during these tense times. Other memorable messages were “Liberty and justice for all (not just white people)” and “ICE shouldn’t kill immigrants either.”

Several organizations were present at the event. Mobile’s Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) and South’s Black Student Union (BSU) were the host organizations. Multiple speakers came from the Mobile PSL, as well as the Pensacola chapter. One PSL speaker, Elijah Splitt, emphasized the interconnection of different struggles. The mass deportation campaigns that are happening in the United States are connected to what the country does abroad in the Middle East. Splitt noted that though ICE and mass deportation campaigns may appear to impact a select few, these things are funded using taxpayer money, while the federal government simultaneously cuts benefits for its citizens. He finished with a bold declaration that there cannot be “business as usual,” while federal agencies terrorize different communities. 

Alex Hatley, a speaker from the Pensacola PSL chapter, shared similar sentiments. He stated, “This should not be normal.” As times continue to grow more difficult, Alex urged the people present to stand in solidarity with each other and not to fall into pessimism. Other PSL speakers discussed similar topics, sharing information about ICE’s recent actions and how to show up for different communities, as well as about the national shutdown taking place on Jan., 30. 

For BSU, its Vice President Jaylin Jackson connected Black Americans’ long history in this country to the current actions of the federal government. America’s present has not escaped this long history but has replicated systems of oppression continuously. Jackson believes all Americans, but especially Black Americans, have a duty to speak up, as all Americans should have a shared purpose. She concluded that South’s BSU “stands with immigrant communities,” and that “justice must belong to everyone.”

Other organizations were also present. Snow Majors, representing USA Spectrum, called ICE the “butcherers of democracy” and encouraged people not to sink into fear. The Latin American Student Organization (LASO) and the Spanish Club were also present. Citlali Garcia from these organizations shared her personal experience of having her father deported last year. Her recounting of the event and the impact that it had on her and her family had a huge crowd response. Finally, Ahmed Zaitoun from Mobile for Palestine connected American domestic policy and the tactics of ICE to the state of Israel and the conflict within Gaza. 

The biggest takeaways from this walkout are that the recent actions of ICE are deplorable, but not new, that we all must stand together in solidarity against these actions, and that humanity and dignity is owed to all human beings, regardless of immigration status. To get more connected with the various organizations discussed, follow @pslmobileal, @usa_bsa, @latinjags, @usaspectrum, and @mobileforpalestine all on Instagram.