Students Walk Out Across Coachella Valley in Protest of ICE Enforcement Actions

UPDATE: With live coverage from NBC Palm Springs Brett Rosen at La Quinta City Hall, where students marched from the high school. Also numbers of average attendance across PSUSD high schools today.

Students across the valley are walking out in protest today, joining a national day of protest against recent federal immigration enforcement activity. NBC Palm Springs has been sending reporters across the valley to learn more. At this time, we are aware of protests at Palm Desert High School, La Quinta High School, Coachella Valley High School, Cathedral City High School, and James Workman Middle School. Many of those reported protests are marching as well, NBC Palm Springs Brett Rosen was down in La Quinta, following high school students as they marched down to La Quinta City Hall.

We also have reports of students across the other protests doing similar actions, marching to their respective city halls. Palm Springs Unified School District Officials told our newsroom this morning that groups from Cathedral City high School and James Workman Middle School have security on hand to keep them safe. They added that across PSUSD high schools, attendance was down at about 500 students each. 

The walkouts come after flyers circulated across Coachella Valley school districts—both in person and online—urging high school students to participate. Over the past week, each local district sent notices to parents about the reported flyers, emphasizing student safety and prioritizing learning through the day. Coachella Valley Unified School District's notice to families acknowledged "reports regarding a possible student walkout on Friday related to current immigration enforcement activity" and asked parents to speak with their children about "making thoughtful and responsible choices."

The protests extend beyond the valley. Organizers, including the group National Shutdown, called for a full day of "no school, no work, no shopping," expanding participation to adults and businesses. Anti-ICE protests have been frequent locally, with three taking place in just the past week and a half.

Area leaders weighed in leading up to today’s actions. Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez called recent ICE tactics "unconscionable" and said they "break the community's trust." Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz said he stands "in solidarity with every American who wants to exercise their First Amendment rights." Assemblymember Greg Wallis said the protests "reflect real concern about recent federal immigration enforcement activity" and urged demonstrators to remain "responsible and nonviolent."

The exact number of protest locations across the valley, whether additional schools saw student participation, and how long demonstrations will continue remain unclear. It's also unknown whether local businesses are closing in response to the national shutdown call.

NBC Palm Springs will have comprehensive coverage of today's protests throughout the day, so stay tuned for that.