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Since Donald Trump’s election as president, one of the most pressing concerns for many people in the United States has been the mass deportations that are expected to take place.
Under the current administration, immigrant communities — particularly Hispanic and Latino populations — will bear the brunt of this aggressive crackdown, stirring a sense of urgency among students and families alike.
Recently, students from Van Nuys High School have shown that they are unwilling to sit idly by while their peers, families and friends face these injustices. A school with a student body that is more than 50% Hispanic, Van Nuys High School has not shied away from activism.
One clear example of this commitment to justice came on Feb. 6, when hundreds of students organized a powerful protest against the ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.
But this wasn’t just another protest — this was a passionate, bold statement by young people who refuse to accept the status quo.
The timing of the walkout was not coincidental. Earlier in the week, students from other high schools throughout LAUSD had staged their own walkout in solidarity with the immigrant community.
By the time Thursday, Feb. 6 came around, Van Nuys students were ready to make their voices heard.
As the clock struck 10:47 a.m., students poured out of the school’s front doors and headed toward Van Nuys City Hall. They carried signs and megaphones, ready to stand up for what they believed in.
And it’s not difficult to see why participants in the walkout were so passionate. For many of these students, the issue is personal.
Van Nuys High School opened the International Newcomer Academy (INA) in 2023 specifically for foreign-born students who have been in the United States for three years or less. These students often face unique challenges in adjusting to a new country, language and culture, and the fear of deportation only adds to their daily struggles.
Many of them know people who are actively trying to gain citizenship or live in constant fear of being separated from their families. The deportations are not just a political issue; they’re a human issue, one that directly affects the lives of their friends, classmates and neighbors.
Teachers, though unable to join the protest, showed their support in other meaningful ways, urging students to stay safe and make smart decisions while voicing their concerns.
The outpouring of support from both students and educators highlighted the sense of solidarity that defines Van Nuys High School. This was not just a protest; it was a collective stand against injustice.
Van Nuys High School is a place where students of all backgrounds come together to learn, grow and support one another. In the face of a government that seems indifferent to their immigrant struggles, these students have made it clear that they will not be silenced.
Their message is simple, yet powerful: they will not stand by while their families and communities are torn apart by fear and hate.
