In 2023, immigrants made up 18.6% of the U.S. workforce. By the end of 2024, they make up 19% of the workforce. And for one whole day, despite making up a small percentage of America’s workforce, their absence is felt everywhere.
On February 3, groups of students and others marched down streets, closed their shops and businesses, and spread awareness via social media outlets.
As of the time of writing this article, approximately 13,455 illegal immigrants have been deported since Trump’s 2025 inauguration. This includes the 2,970 non-Mexican citizens deported into Mexico between January 20 and February 16. During that period, the Department of Homeland Security reported that 5,693 immigrants were deported or removed to 121 countries.
The true reason as to why the U.S. is cracking down on immigration depends on whether or not they support this new policy. Supporters say it’s because of national security, economic impact, and drug smuggling.
Some students of Lake Stevens High School heard about the protest and joined in.
“They think that immigrants do illegal things when they really don’t,” senior Lily Luangrath said.
In a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on December 10 of last year, Senator Ted Cruz claimed that the justification for mass deportations and stricter border laws is because of convicted immigrants. The 207,762 immigrant convicts leave 442,238 immigrants who weren’t convicted.
While it’s clear that crimes committed by immigrants are an existing issue, it’s tough to call it a “national security concern” when immigrants–both documented and undocumented–are less likely to commit criminal offenses than domestic citizens.
“Everybody should have rights, including Hispanics, so that we don’t have to fear going outside and shopping or doing work,” junior Isis Huerta said. She was one of the many participants in this protest, going as far as to miss a whole day of school to do so.
The impact of the movement varied across different regions. Wikipedia reports that in Los Angeles, protesters marched through U.S. 101, temporarily blocking traffic, carrying banners with slogans such as “Nobody is illegal” and other pro-immigration messages.
In Chicago, Block Club Chicago reported bakeries, restaurants, and other businesses closing to protest president Trump’s hardline immigration policies. And in Seattle, Wikipedia said that several businesses closed to support the movement.
However, not everyone has interest or is aware of this protest.
“I do [know it], but I don’t know a lot about it,” Senior Renalyn Catigan said.
Despite these widespread actions, the federal government’s stance on immigration remained largely unchanged. The new Trump Administration continued its policies, with no immediate concessions or policy shifts reported in response to the protests.
“A day without immigrants” was just a one-day protest, and while it did little to nothing to change the policies of the administration, the message lingers: immigrants are not just workers. The movement raised awareness and showcased solidarity. As immigration policies refuse to shift, the question remains: will we as a nation recognize their value before it’s too late?
