Silver Spring, MD —
Hundreds of students at a Maryland high school walked out of class this week in protest of immigration authorities detaining a fellow classmate, drawing widespread attention to a case that has shaken the school community.
Students at staged the peaceful walkout, chanting in support of their classmate and carrying signs that read “Keep Families Together” and “Students Not Suspects.”
The protest comes after news spread that a popular student, who had been attending the school for several years, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) earlier this month.
“This is our friend, our classmate. He belongs here,” said [insert student name], a junior who helped organize the walkout. “We’re standing up because what happened to him could happen to any of us or our families.”
According to school officials and students, the detained teen is a well-known and active member of the school community, involved in extracurricular activities and on track to graduate next year. Many say the arrest has sparked fear and anger among immigrant families in the area.
The protest remained peaceful, with school administrators and local police ensuring students’ safety as they gathered outside the school building. Some teachers and staff members expressed quiet support for the demonstration, praising students for organizing respectfully and exercising their right to speak out.
In a statement, Montgomery County Public Schools said it “respects the rights of students to peacefully demonstrate” and remains committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all.
The student’s legal status and the details surrounding the ICE action remain under review, but advocacy groups have stepped in to provide legal assistance and call for his release. Immigrant rights organizations across the state are now echoing the students’ demands and urging elected officials to take action.
“We are incredibly proud of these young people,” said [insert advocate’s name] of [insert organization]. “Their courage is a powerful reminder that the immigration debate is not just about politics — it’s about real people, real lives, and real families.”
As the school community rallies around the student and his family, many say the protest is just the beginning of a larger push for local and national reform.
“This is about more than one person,” said [insert student name]. “We want to make sure no one else has to go through this again.”
For now, students are calling on their peers, teachers, and local leaders to support their classmate and continue the conversation around immigration, education, and justice.
