Over 100 students across the Iowa City Community School District and Iowa City community members protested at the University of Iowa Pentacrest against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE Thursday afternoon.

Their outrage stems from recent controversial killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good who were shot by ICE agents in Minneapolis, as well as Lunas Campos, Parady La,  Heber Sánchez Domínguez, and others who have died in ICE detention centers.

Organized by West High School Senior Tirza Overhalt and Junior Moss Stutsman, Overhalt said the walkout’s purpose was to amplify the voices of those affected by ICE detentions, adding she felt her privilege as someone who is not directly impacted encouraged her to arrange the event with Stutsman.

“Literally make a Canva graphic, and then post it up in places, and people will show up,” Overhalt said. “Don’t be nervous about people being as passionate. They’re just looking for a way to help. And also help your neighbors donate, call your legislators, demand change because that’s what we need right now.”

Overhalt said protests like Thursday’s walkout and others springing up around the U.S. demonstrate what she called a dire need for change in our government.

“Local change first, and then hopefully, since Iowa is seen as a red state, this will help let the people know that we’re done,” she said. “We’re tired. It’s been enough of this.”

She also referenced bill HF 2041, introduced to the Iowa’s House of Representatives on Jan. 26. The bill would require state law enforcement to comply with federal immigration and customs enforcement if passed.

“That is not what we want to see, because we’ve seen how corrupt and terrible that can be, and if they expand their reach on more things in our community, then that’s just gonna end up terribly,” she said.

West High School senior and Student Government President Waleed Ibrahim also called for legislative action and coverage for the issues happening locally and nationally.

“I want people who are in much higher positions to actually be able to change things legally,” Ibrahim said. “Whether that’s the state senate or the actual legislative branch, I think that people need to be able to see that this isn’t just happening in one place.”

He said, despite it being his first protest, he feels it is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately, with his involvement in the walkout having a personal connection.

“My mom came here as an immigrant, and it hasn’t affected my family personally yet, but my mom is still afraid,” Ibrahim said. “I think that’s worth something because of the work my mom did to take us from Sudan, to be the first person in her entire family to come to America.”

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City High freshman Yara Ahmad, an immigrant from Egypt, said travelling as an immigrant has become a concern for her, her family, and her friends.

“I’ve only been here for like 2 years, so it’s a very disappointing thing to have to worry about,” Ahmad said. “Like, where am I going, and some of my friends have to kind of worry when they’re going out too. I just have to keep an eye out.”

City High Freshman Jurzie Pruis, a friend of Ahmad’s, said she feels empathetic for her and others who have been impacted by ICE detainments, walking out to support her community.

“I think it’s just really sad that these high schoolers and kids have to be worried about their families getting deported,” Pruis said.

Likewise, UI students took part in observing the protest, filming, and cheering for those who spoke out.

First-year student Michael Hunte said he is happy to be a part of such a supportive community, and that he has suffered personally through experiences with immigration and documentation processing.

“My dad, he was an immigrant and passed because there was a hold on his papers coming back here to be treated for cancer,” he said. “So it’s good to see that people are out here speaking and trying to make a difference.”

He also called for more regulations on ICE, particularly bringing ICE agents to justice for illegal actions that do not fall within their jurisdiction.

A UI psychology student, who asked to remain anonymous for their family’s safety, said understanding due process individual rights is essential when encountering law enforcement.

“Without due process, you are whatever the nearest federal agent says you are, regardless of what you look like,” the source said. “They’ve legalized racial profiling for ICE agents. They’ve abandoned so much of our constitution, and we are in the stage where they’re telling us to not believe what’s happening in front of our own eyes, and that’s not OK.”

In September 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, granted a request by President Donald Trump to allow ICE officers to make detainments on the grounds of race during immigration stops.

City Council member Oliver Weilein made an appearance to support the student protestors as well by telling them not be afraid to stand up.

“There’s always teachers telling you, ‘Oh, you’re going to get detention, you’re not going to go to college, this, that, and the other thing,’” Weilein said. “Generally, when they say things like that, they are lying to you. You have way more power than you realize, so never sell yourself short.”