On Jan. 30, 2026, over a hundred students from San Gabriel High School (SGHS) walked out in protest against the raids conducted by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)) officers around the nation. What had started as a few students holding up signs at the ‘Fishbowl’ quickly morphed into an impromptu walkout with students from San Gabriel joining protestors from Mark Keppel and Alhambra High School.
Junior Wendelen Gomez, one of the protest organizers, explains that this was almost entirely on-the-spot: “Originally, I just wanted to stand at lunch and show off the posters that I had made. That was my plan—just to stand there and preach and talk about what is going on, because what’s going on is not okay.” San Gabriel protestors made multiple stops, ultimately stopping at Main Street and City Hall.
This outburst of nationwide protest follows a myriad of violence committed by ICE agents against ordinary United States citizens. Therefore, it’s no surprise that students in the San Gabriel Valley are worried for their families. SG student Sue Ma states, “ICE Out” resonates with me…it impacts families and communities whether or not [you] agree…” For students with leading roles in the protest, like Gomez, the issue was deeply personal. “My grandma hasn’t left her house since September out of fear…I miss seeing her and having her over. My mom is from Guadalejara…I wouldn’t be surprised if ICE took [my dad] simply because he isn’t originally from here. It affects my family and the people in my community, because not everybody is able to speak up because they’re scared.”
January’s protest joins a string of peaceful protests organized by high school students both in California and nationwide. However, these protests are not without dangers: some SG students in the crowd suffered irritation and itchiness caused by an unidentified gas thrown into the crowd. Others cited citizens honking or heckling disapprovingly at students. When asked about the opinion of potentially pro-ICE students and citizens, Gomez states: “Don’t spread hate. Keep that to yourself. Hate is something that is destroying our world. If you don’t agree with someone, you don’t have to get hostile with them. [Hate] reflects more on you than it does [on] the cause. It shows people your mentality of what’s going on and makes you look bad.”
*The San Gabriel High School Matador would also like to remind you (the reader) that if you would like to participate in a protest, you are granted 1 excused absence by the State of California under CA SB 955 after providing advance notice to the school. Stay safe, stay mindful, and speak up!*
