Students at a York high school staged a walkout over immigration enforcement, saying fear of ICE has pushed some classmates into cyber school and prompted families to take new precautions.
More than a hundred William Penn Senior High School students walked out of class Thursday afternoon and staged a protest against ICE actions in York and across the country.
The students left the school and marched down George Street to the area in front of the York County Judicial Center, then back to York City Hall before heading to Continental Square, shouting slogans such as, “No more ice.”
“We’re tired of being treated as a minority,” said one student, who declined to provide a full name out of fear of reprisal. “We are all one, we’re all God’s people, and it’s time we started being treated like that.”
Several students who joined the protest noted that school officials had tried to scare them off from staging the walkout.
York City’s spokeswoman ShaiQuana Mitchell said the district was aware of the protest, and the administrators followed the district’s protocols to maintain a safe and secure learning environment for the students, which was the staff’s top priority throughout the day.
“We remain focused on continuing the important work of teaching and learning,” she said.
Thursday’s student protest marked the latest in a series of demonstrations in York. Student organizers said they took strides to ensure their demonstration was peaceful and orderly. At one point, students urged other protesters away from the York County Judicial Center doors.
The students said they were inspired by other student demonstrations around the nation, which have grown in number following the killings of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers in Minneapolis.
“Most of us in this crowd are Hispanic or Black, and we’re just standing up for our people because of all the stuff that is happening,” said another William Penn student protest who, like others, declined to provide a full name out of fear of reprisal. “They’re trying to come invade York, and we’re just not going for it.”
The student walkout took place at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday, as the school day was winding down.
Many students in the district have family or friends who live in fear of ICE agents.
“We want to spread awareness around York because some kids are scared even scared to leave school, to leave home,” said Maya Bruno, a 12th grade student who joined the protest in solidarity with her friends.
“Me and my friends thought it was smart, that we needed to start one,” she added. “We wanted to stand up and let people know that we’re not scared.”
Bruno said she knows of several classmates who’ve transitioned from in-person schooling to cyber school out of fear of running into enforcement agents. Other legal residents have been carrying their green cards with them to school, out of fear that they may be stopped.
In January 2025, shortly after President Donald Trump took office with rhetoric of a sweeping immigration crackdown, the local school district issued a statement in January vowing to protect students from potential ICE enforcement raids.
“We value the diversity of our students and believe that every child should be able to learn without fear,” Superintendent Andrea Berry-Brown wrote in a letter that went home to district families.
ICE activity in the area
Since then, however, the school district has remained silent on the issue. Officials haven’t responded to numerous requests for comment, even amid a series of high-profile ICE arrests in the community.
Last month, roughly 100 immigration enforcement vehicles were spotted in York City. Observers report a recent increase in activity at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. Representatives from the federal agency have repeatedly declined or not responded to requests for comment seeking clarification for the activities at its 1605 Clugston Road facility.
For its part, city police say the department doesn’t participate in federal immigration activities. So far, West York is the only local police agency to sign a so-called 287(g) agreement with ICE, deputizing local officers to assist federal immigration officers. West York’s Police Chief Matt Millsaps told the York Daily Record, however, that his officers aren’t enforcing immigration laws.
CASA guidance
We Are CASA, an immigrant advocacy group, issued guidance on how individuals can protect their rights during encounters with ICE.
According to We Are CASA’s “Know Your Rights” information, individuals have the right to remain silent if questioned about immigration status and do not have to answer questions beyond providing their name if required by law. If ICE agents arrive at the door, individuals may ask them to provide evidence of a warrant before opening. We Are CASA offers a full guide on its website at wearecasa.org/know-your-rights.
CASA also operates an ICE raid activity hotline at 1-888-214-6016.
