Education

See photos of Sacramento student walkout against ICE at Capitol

By Hector Amezcua and Renée C. Byer

More than 1,000 students walked off their campuses around the Sacramento area Friday and converged on the state Capitol to protest federal immigration enforcement.

The student organizers, who first posted about the multi-school demonstration on Tuesday, said the protest was against the “brutal oppression” of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and President Donald Trump’s administration after federal agents killed two people in Minneapolis.

Many of the students left class after second period and rode light rail to the Archives Plaza stop, where they exited for the Capitol protest. A group left the Capitol grounds to march to the John E. Moss building.

McClatchy High students take part in a districtwide walkout on Friday in Sacramento, joining a nationwide protest against immigration enforcement following fatal shootings in Minneapolis.
McClatchy High students take part in a districtwide walkout on Friday in Sacramento, joining a nationwide protest against immigration enforcement following fatal shootings in Minneapolis. RENÉE C. BYER rbyer@sacbee.com
Nalaya Harrell holds a sign alongside Lola Morado, dressed in a duck costume, as they join McClatchy High students catching light rail during a districtwide walkout on Friday in Sacramento, part of a nationwide student effort to protest immigration enforcement following fatal shootings in Minneapolis.
Nalaya Harrell holds a sign alongside Lola Morado, dressed in a duck costume, as they join McClatchy High students catching light rail during a districtwide walkout on Friday in Sacramento, part of a nationwide student effort to protest immigration enforcement following fatal shootings in Minneapolis. RENÉE C. BYER rbyer@sacbee.com
McClatchy High students wait for the next light rail train as they take part in a districtwide walkout on Friday in Sacramento, part of a nationwide student effort to protest immigration enforcement following fatal shootings in Minneapolis.
McClatchy High students wait for the next light rail train as they take part in a districtwide walkout on Friday in Sacramento, part of a nationwide student effort to protest immigration enforcement following fatal shootings in Minneapolis. RENÉE C. BYER rbyer@sacbee.com
Gianni Miller and Carla Ruelas, students at Burbank High School, march on Florin Road during a student-led march against ICE to the state Capitol on Friday.
Gianni Miller and Carla Ruelas, students at Burbank High School, march on Florin Road during a student-led march against ICE to the state Capitol on Friday. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
Jackson Destefano, at right, waves and holds a sign alongside McClatchy High students catching light rail during a districtwide walkout on Friday in Sacramento, part of a nationwide student effort to protest immigration enforcement following fatal shootings in Minneapolis.
Jackson Destefano, at right, waves and holds a sign alongside McClatchy High students catching light rail during a districtwide walkout on Friday in Sacramento, part of a nationwide student effort to protest immigration enforcement following fatal shootings in Minneapolis. RENÉE C. BYER rbyer@sacbee.com
McClatchy High students are told to wait for the next light rail train during a districtwide walkout on Friday in Sacramento, part of a nationwide student effort to protest immigration enforcement following fatal shootings in Minneapolis.
McClatchy High students are told to wait for the next light rail train during a districtwide walkout on Friday in Sacramento, part of a nationwide student effort to protest immigration enforcement following fatal shootings in Minneapolis. RENÉE C. BYER rbyer@sacbee.com
Burbank and McClatchy High School students ride a light rail train to downtown Sacramento during a student-led school walkout against ICE on Friday.
Burbank and McClatchy High School students ride a light rail train to downtown Sacramento during a student-led school walkout against ICE on Friday. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
Gianni Miller, a Burbank High School student, holds a sign in Spanish as he waits with other students for the light rail train during a student-led protest against ICE at the state Capitol on Friday. “We have to scream what your parents and mine keep silent because of fear,” the sign reads in Spanish.
Gianni Miller, a Burbank High School student, holds a sign in Spanish as he waits with other students for the light rail train during a student-led protest against ICE at the state Capitol on Friday. “We have to scream what your parents and mine keep silent because of fear,” the sign reads in Spanish. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
A march participant carries a sign that says "We're America's melting pot during a student-led protest against ICE at the state Capitol on Friday.
A march participant carries a sign that says "We're America's melting pot during a student-led protest against ICE at the state Capitol on Friday. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
Students carry signs as they march to the John E. Moss Federal Building during a protest against ICE at the state Capitol on Friday.
Students carry signs as they march to the John E. Moss Federal Building during a protest against ICE at the state Capitol on Friday. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
Burbank High student Delaura Johnson holds a sign that says "everyone deserves to be part of the American dream" as she participates in a protest against ICE at the state Capitol on Friday.
Burbank High student Delaura Johnson holds a sign that says "everyone deserves to be part of the American dream" as she participates in a protest against ICE at the state Capitol on Friday. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
Students march from the John E. Moss Federal Building back to the state Capitol in Sacramento during a protest against ICE on Friday.
Students march from the John E. Moss Federal Building back to the state Capitol in Sacramento during a protest against ICE on Friday. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
Trevon Younger, of Sacramento, joins a student-led protest against ICE at the state Capitol on Friday. “The high school kids are out here for a future that may not be here if we’re not doing this,” he said.
Trevon Younger, of Sacramento, joins a student-led protest against ICE at the state Capitol on Friday. “The high school kids are out here for a future that may not be here if we’re not doing this,” he said. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
A large group of student protesters gather behind the John E. Moss Federal Building during a demonstration against ICE on Friday.
A large group of student protesters gather behind the John E. Moss Federal Building during a demonstration against ICE on Friday. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
Mark Jhohann, a Burbank High School student, plays a drum and chants during a student-led protest against ICE behind the John E. Moss Federal Building on Friday. The students marched from the Capitol to support a group regularly protesting against detentions at the building.
Mark Jhohann, a Burbank High School student, plays a drum and chants during a student-led protest against ICE behind the John E. Moss Federal Building on Friday. The students marched from the Capitol to support a group regularly protesting against detentions at the building. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
More than a thousand people rally during a student-led protest against ICE at the state Capitol on Friday.
More than a thousand people rally during a student-led protest against ICE at the state Capitol on Friday. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com

This story was originally published January 30, 2026 at 4:00 PM.

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Profile Image of Hector Amezcua
Hector Amezcua
The Sacramento Bee
916-826-1336
Hector Amezcua is an award-winning visual journalist for The Sacramento Bee. Fluent in Spanish, he is a Fresno State graduate in journalism and Chicano studies. He has worked for McClatchy since 1992, taking pictures at all three Bee newsrooms in California.
Profile Image of Renée C. Byer
Renée C. Byer
The Sacramento Bee
916-826-1339
Renée C. Byer earned the Pulitzer Prize for feature photography in 2007 and was a finalist in 2013. She joined The Bee in 2003. Photographs from her internationally acclaimed book, “Living on a Dollar a Day: The Lives and Faces of the World’s Poor,” exhibit worldwide.
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