On Friday, January 30, 2026, students of Truckee High School marched on Donner Pass Road in association with the nationwide student protests against recent actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
According to AP News, six people have died during the nationwide immigration crackdown. Two of these people, both killed in January 2026, were a part of the Minneapolis, Minnesota protests.
Now, these protests have grown to national prominence. Citizens of the U.S. are dissatisfied with the Government’s role in addressing immigration, and the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers that have gone without charges. Students around the country participated in a walk out on Friday to show support for those affected by the ICE actions in the US.
In Truckee, businesses and consumers also participated by closing their businesses or participating in a “no-spend” day.
On the sidewalk outside of the school, the energy was heightened. Students held hand-made signs and shouted chants that filled the air around Donner Pass Road. “No justice, no peace, get ice off our streets.”
“I am here today because people are scared to go out on their own streets and it is not okay to be scared to live your life,” said Grayson Martin, a Senior at Truckee High. “And it is not okay to be scared when you’re inside of a school that someone’s going to come and take you.”
Keegan Dwyer, another Senior at THS, said, “I’m out here to protect the rights of my fellow citizens and Americans.” Dwyer was part of the group protesting across from the high school, in front of La Bamba Mexican Restaurant. “It’s not fair for people who are living in this country peacefully and paying taxes to be picked up off the streets and kidnapped out of their homes and businesses unfairly and without lawful detention.”
“I am here to show how much support [immigrants] have and to show everyone they’re not alone,” said Iratze Aguilar, a Junior at THS.
“I feel really under informed, which is part of the reason why I’m here,” said Riley Killen, a Junior at THS. “I didn’t know how many people would care, and it felt like if one person did it, it wouldn’t really matter.”
“I just feel less alone and less scared about it,” Killen continued. “Because looking at it at home… It feels like nobody cares. And then coming somewhere like here, it’s like, people do care. And then it feels less like the end of the world and more like we just have to do something. And we are doing something.”
Later, after the protest on Friday, Jan 30, John Neuburger, Principal of THS, sent an email to parents and families of the school. Here he wrote, “THS did not promote or organize this event; however, we do respect our students’ rights to express themselves peacefully. There were no disciplinary consequences for participating in the protest on school grounds or adjacent sidewalks.”
“THS administration and a few staff members were present to supervise and ensure the protest remained peaceful, while Truckee Police officers provided on-site support to manage traffic and help students safely cross the street.”
The teachers at Truckee High School were not part of the protest or student protection, and they stayed in the classroom to continue teaching those who did not want to participate. Students were marked absent from any classes they missed, but otherwise students were not punished for attending the protest.
