There have been numerous ICE protests around the world, mostly occurring in the United States. A notable protest took place in Lake Stevens, WA, on February 7th, to which many people from the high school and the surrounding town participated. This protest was established to allow people to express their views peacefully and to give others a voice that makes an impact.

On Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, the protest was held, and it showed how important it is to use your voice about the actions and policies of ICE. ICE enforces immigration laws, and many people have strong opinions about how those laws impact families and communities.

By protesting peacefully, people can share their concerns and stand up for what they believe in.

As Senior Natalie Holmes said, “If you don’t put your voice out in the world, then nobody’s gonna know what you want and what you need,” which explains why speaking up matters.

A protest is one way people choose to express their opinions publicly and bring attention to certain issues.

By speaking up or participating, individuals communicate their perspectives instead of keeping them private. Whether or not everyone agrees, sharing ideas openly allows conversations to happen and helps different viewpoints be heard.

The common main issue that’s being spread is how ICE is handling things around the world, and how it isn’t okay.

“The whole idea behind ICE is deporting immigrants who came here illegally, but at the same time there’s a lot of people who have come here legally or have done their due process, who are being taken away due to profiling,” Senior Cole Kimball said.

ICE’s original idea and concept may seem reasonable, but the way it is being used now and executed is not okay. According to Kimball, due process and fairness are important, and he feels those standards are not always being met.

There are always mixed opinions when it comes to complicated topics. Senior Keegan Brown says he supports students using their First Amendment rights but questions the overall impact.

“I feel like you can’t really change the world in one day,” Brown said.

Explaining that a one-day walkout won’t create lasting change unless it occurs over a longer period of time. The importance of safety is also mentioned, and when it comes to protests, persistence plays a huge role in the efficiency of the public demonstrations.

“If it’s a respectful protest, and everybody is safe and you have a good plan, I have no problem with that, and I’ll support that, but if you’re just trying to make something out of nothing, I don’t feel like that’s useful,” Brown said.

Overall, the recent protests have shown that students at LSHS care deeply about the issues affecting their communities and the country. While opinions differ on how effective these demonstrations are, many agree that having the freedom to speak out is important and is now being practiced in their own city. Due to the protest, whether through organized events or everyday conversations, students are learning that engagement takes perseverance, open-mindedness, and willingness to understand other perspectives.