GREEN MAG

A series of nationwide student walkouts occurred on Jan. 30 as part of a "National Shutdown," an organized eventasking Americans to skip school,stay home from work and boycott shopping in protest of ICE's operations across the country. The event, modeled after theone-day shutdown in Minnesota, was organized by a coalition of student groups.

The walkouts and marches have extended beyond shutdown day, with young people leaving classrooms and taking to the streets in subsequent demonstrations − and there are still more of these student-led protests to come, according to local reports.

See here scenes from student marches in cities across the U.S.

After the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good by federal immigration agents (ICE), communities across the U.S. are protesting against Trump's surge of immigration enforcement actions.

Pictured here, Demonstrators gather for a protest calling for the removal of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Jan. 30, 2026 in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Protests were held across the United States in response to ICE enforcement activity.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Hundreds of people gather to protest ICE at the corner of Palafox and Garden Streets in downtown Pensacola, Florida, on Jan. 30, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

'ICE Out' protests spark marches, confrontations across US

After the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good by federal immigration agents (ICE), communities across the U.S. areprotestingagainst Trump's surge of immigration enforcement actions.Pictured here, Demonstrators gather for a protest calling for the removal of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Jan. 30, 2026 in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Protests were held across the United States in response to ICE enforcement activity.

Indianapolis, IN

Students across the Indianapolismetro area have walked out or plan to this week. Hundreds of students from North Central High School poured out onto the streets on Monday, Feb. 2, prompting police to close northern Indianapolis streets, while a few hundred marched out of Noblesville High School the same day.

"We're feeling powerful," student organizer Emma-Louise Akinleyetold the IndyStar,part of the USA TODAY Network. "We're feeling like our voices — they have a real impact."

More walkouts were planned at several high schools, including Greenfield High School, Mt. Vernon High School in Fortville, Park Tudor High School, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School and Zionsville High School.

Tallahassee, FL

In Florida, students in Tallahassee and beyond braved the abnormal cold to take to the streets. Nearly 100 students atLincoln High Schoolin Eastern Tallahassee marched off campus in protest of ICE on Feb. 2.

"The hate in the halls is loud, but we want to be louder. We hope to advocate for peace and equality," student organizer Mara Stopyaktold the Tallahassee Democrat,part of the USA TODAY Network. "We want to show Tallahassee that we do not stand with ICE."

In Port Orange, anestimated 100 Atlantic High School studentsskipped afternoon classes on Friday, Jan. 30, to protest, defying threats of disciplinary action from school officials.

Fort Collins and Denver, CO

In Fort Collins, Colorado, nearly half of the 766 students at Lesher Middle School participated in a student-led walkout on Feb. 2,reported the Fort Collins Coloradoan, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Businesses in Fort Collins, about 60 miles north of Denver,previously closed on Jan. 30in solidarity with a nationwide shutdown to protest the actions of ICE.

Several Denver-area school districts closed or changed their schedules on Jan. 30 to accommodate large student walkouts,reported The Denver Gazette, as thousands marched to the state capitol.

Reno, NV

In Reno, Nevada, hundreds of middle and high school students across Washoe County walked out in force on Jan. 30. Young people came from schools across the Reno area, including Reno, McQueen, Sparks, Wooster and Damonte high schools.

"We are sick of seeing on the news how ICE is shooting and killing and how the budget is going crazy and how everything is out of control," 18-year-old student James Fraziertold the Reno Gazette Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Advertisement

Milwaukee, WI

In the Milwaukee metro area, hundreds of students from several high and middle schools marched and chanted during a walkout, with Whitefish Bay High School student Rain Rosenberg calling ICE's actions "un-American."

"I care about this a lot. I think that kids here at (Whitefish) Bay have a lot of privilege and we need to speak out," shetold the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network.

The Milwaukee area and Wisconsin at large have seen several student protests in recent weeks.On Jan. 20, students at Rufus King International High School,Reagan High School, Dominican High School and West Allis Central High School walked out.

The same day, in the Fox Cities area in east central Wisconsin,about 100 Menasha High School students walked out. Those were preceded by walkouts atShorewood High School on Jan. 16andWauwatosa East High School on Jan. 12.

Phoenix, AZ

Students from high schools and colleges in the Phoenix area protested on Jan. 30, prompting more than 20 schools in the Tucson Unified School District to close for the day.

The protests came after demonstrations on Jan. 28 at area schools, including Arcadia High School, Tolleson Union High School and Camelback High School, among others.

Hundreds of students ultimately took to the streets,reported the Arizona Republic,a part of the USA TODAY Network.

Knoxville, TN

Students in Knoxville, TN, also participated in large walkouts on Jan. 30, gathering downtown to march to the City-County Building. Of the hundreds that participated in the march, a large portion − about 40% − were estimated to be students,according to the Knoxville News Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network.

"Our country is built from immigrants from the ground up," Powell High School sophomore Emma Noe told the Sentinel. "Our ancestors would be disappointed."

Elected officials, including Knoxville City Councilmember Denzel Grant and State Rep. Gloria Johnson, also attended to show their support for students.

Asheville, NC

Over 200 students walked out of Asheville High School on Feb. 2, taking signs and chants to the streets outside. At least one local official, Asheville City Council member Kim Roney, also attended in a show of support.

"We want to show that the youth aren't backing down," Cora, a student and lifelong Asheville resident,told the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Palm Springs, CA

Hundreds of students across the Coachella Valley in California walked out of class on Jan. 30,reported the Palm Springs Desert Sun, part of the USA TODAY Network.

"I think we're headed toward a period of fascism in America, and I think it's important for young people who have a voice to speak up against things they think are important," Chloe Freeman, a junior at La Quinta High School, told the Desert Sun.

Middle and high school students from Desert Sands Unified School District, Coachella Valley Unified School District and other area schools participated in the hundreds, with Palm Springs Unified School District students planning to hold their own march on Feb. 9

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:ICE protests continue as US students stage school walkouts

Some warehouse owners have decided not to sell to Immigration and Customs Enforcement under pressure from elected officials and advocates. Some cities are issuing statements urging ICE to look elsewhere, and Kansas City has passed a moratorium on non-city-run detention facilities.

ICE has offered few specifics, even to the cities, but said in a statement that the sites wouldn't be warehouses but "well structured detention facilities" and said it should come as no surprise that the agency is working to expand detention space.

Here is a look at what's happening:

ICE paid $70 million last month for a vast warehouse facility on the northwestern outskirts of Phoenix, according to a deed filed with Maricopa County.

The city of Surprise said in astatementreleased Friday that it was not aware that there were efforts underway to purchase the building, was not notified of the transaction by any of the parties involved and has not been contacted by the Department of Homeland Security or any federal agency about the intended use of the building.

The statement said federal projects are not subject to local regulations, such as zoning.

In Orlando, Mayor Buddy Dyer said in a statement last month that the city was advised that it has no legal options to halt a possible ICE facility from opening.

The statement said the city has not been informed by the federal government of potential plans, but aTV reporterspotted a group of private contractors and federal officials touring a 439,945-square-foot industrial warehouse last month. ICE senior advisor David Venturella told a reporter with WFTV at the time that the tour was "exploratory" and that nothing had been decided yet.

City attorney Mayanne Downs said in a letter that "ICE is immune from any local regulation that interferes in any way with its federal mandate."

The town council in Merrillville passed aresolutionlast week in opposition of ICE converting a warehouse into a processing or detention facility.

The city said it was aware of a tour of the newly constructed, 275,000-square-foot warehouse. But it said it had received no notice or communication from ICE, the Department of Homeland Security or any federal agency about any possible plans.

An earlier statement said that the town was reviewing zoning, land use and occupancy requirements.

ICE purchased a warehouse in a county about 60 miles (96 kilometers) northwest of Baltimore for $102.4 million, a deed signed last month shows. The deed was unearthed byProject Salt Box, a Maryland ICE watchdog.

Officials in Washington County said in a Facebookpostthat the Department of Homeland Security sent a letter beforehand that it was considering purchasing the warehouse for use as a "new ICE Baltimore Processing Facility." Cafeterias, bathrooms, health care spaces, tents and guard shacks could be part of the project, according to the letter that was addressed to historic and planning officials in the county.

The county said there wasn't much they could do because the federal government generally does not need to respect local zoning regulations that conflict with federal mandates.

"Washington County is not able to legally restrict the federal government's ability to proceed," the post said.

In the suburbs of Minneapolis, the owners of two warehouses have pulled out of possible ICE deals amid a public outcry.

In Woodbury, Mayor Anne Burt said in a Facebookpostlast month that city staff had confirmed that a warehouse in the city isn't being sold or leased to the federal government. She also confirmed at a council meeting that ICE had been interested in the property.

Owners of another warehouse in Shakopee also decided not to move forward, state Rep. Brad Tabke announced last month in a Facebookpost.

"They heard you, they listened," Tabke said.

Mississippi

Federal officials were spotted last month scouting a building in Marshall County, the county's board vice president, Neil Bennett, toldThe Commercial Appeal.

Bennett said he was not aware of the visit beforehand because it is a privately owned building, but he heard about it "later on." The building islisted as available for sale and lease on the website of JLL Properties, a purveyor of commercial real estate.

Bennett told The Associated Press that he didn't have time to discuss the situation when contacted Tuesday because he was dealing with ongoing power outages in the area. A woman who answered the phone at the county government building said the county isn't commenting at this time.

In Kansas City, the city council passed a five-year moratorium on non-city-run detention facilities on the very day that ICE officials were spotted touring a warehouse.

Manny Abarca, a Jackson County lawmaker, was initially threatened with trespassing when he showed up Jan. 15 at the nearly 1-million-square-foot (92,903 square meters) building on the outskirts of Kansas City.

He said he was eventually allowed inside where Shawn Byers, the deputy field office director for ICE in Chicago, told him that they were scouting for a 7,500-bed site.

Abarca announced last week he was introducing a similar detention moratorium at the county level.

"When federal power is putting communities on edge, local government has a responsibility to act where we have authority," he said in a statement.

New Hampshire

The town council in Merrimack — population 30,000 — expressed its opposition to an ICE immigration detention and processing center in a January letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, without receiving a direct response.

Council members fear federal acquisition of a commercial warehouse in Merrimack, 45 miles northwest of Boston, would undermine the city's property tax base by more than $500,000 a year, shifting costs to other property owners.

The Department of Homeland Security told New Hampshire's congressional delegation that ICE is "reviewing its detention structure and acquisition strategy to address a historic operational tempo and increasing arrests" and had no new detention centers to announce. The ACLU of New Hampshire said Tuesday that public records show ICE has consulted with state historic preservation officials about development of a 43-acre site at Merrimack.

Democratic state Rep. Rosemarie Rung of Merrimack said her constituents worry about the strain of an immigration detention center on local emergency services and public infrastructure.

"I really suspect that the silent treatment is deliberate so that they can avoid any protests regarding this facility," Rung said. "It makes us all very suspect."

In Roxbury, council members passed a resolution saying that they aren't in support of an ICE facility after township manager J.J. Murphy spotted ICE officials touring a warehouse there last month. The council also pointed out that the township's zoning regulations prohibit using the warehouse as a detention facility.

ICE's plans for the site are unclear. Murphy said in an interview with The Associated Press Monday that the township has received no information from federal officials about their plans for the site despite repeated emails.

That hasn't stopped the township from sharing an internal memo from the city's engineer about water and sewar issues at the site with the owner of the warehouse. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker also has toured the site.

Elected officials are pushing back after the Department of Homeland Security posted anoticeannouncing a proposal to purchase a vacant warehouse in Chester, a town more than an hour north of New York City, for "ICE operations." ICE said the proposed improvements would include a small guard building and outdoor recreation area.

The notice was needed because the former distribution center for the aftermarket automotive chain PepBoys is in a 100-year flood plain.

New York state Sen. Michelle Hinchey, a Democrat, said in a statement that she would support the town and village boards as they use "every legal, zoning, and environmental tool available" to block the facility.

In Oklahoma City, Mayor David HoltannouncedThursday that he has been informed that the Department of Homeland Security is no longer in talks to acquire a warehouse after the city councilurged federal officials to take part in the city's permitting process.

The department had told the city in a letter last month that it intended to purchase a nearly 27-acre warehouse in the city for ICE operations.

But as crowds opposed to the facility packed a city council meeting this week, the council said the city was exploring legal options. Holt said the property owners then informed him that they are no longer engaged with Homeland Security about a potential acquisition or lease of this property.

"I commend the owners for their decision and thank them on behalf of the people of Oklahoma City," Holt said. "As Mayor, I ask that every single property owner in Oklahoma City exhibit the same concern for our community in the days ahead."

Pennsylvania

ICE paid $87.4 million for a nearly 520,000-square-foot (48,309-square-meter) warehouse, according to a deed that was recorded Monday in Berks County.

Real estate developerspromotedit as a "state-of-the art logistics center" located 45 minutes from Allentown, an hour and a half from Philadelphia and two hours from New York City.

The county spokesman, Jonathan Heintzman, said in an email that the county was informed Monday by the recorder of deeds of the purchase. Heintzman said the county had no prior knowledge of the sale and had no information on future plans for the property.

In El Paso County, commissioners on Monday formally expressed opposition to the construction of detention facilities amid reports that ICE is eying a warehouse in the county. Commissioners also said they working with other officials to try to get more details.

Other cities in Texas also have been named in unconfirmed reports, but officials haven't heard any information from federal officials.

In Salt Lake City, Mayor Erin Mendenhall expressed gratitude last week in her State of the Cityaddressthat the owners of a warehouse that ICE was eying as a detention facility had announced plans not to sell or lease the property to the federal government.

The announcement from the Ritchie Group, a Utah real estate developer, came after Mendenhall sent a letter saying that the building would need to address a host of requirements before obtaining an occupancy permit.

"But let me be clear: this isn't just about zoning restrictions," Mendenhall said. "Such a facility has no place in our city. Whether at that site or anywhere else."

In the suburbs of Richmond, Virginia, officials in Hanover County are asking their attorney to evaluate legal options after the Department of Homeland Security sent a letter confirming its intent to purchase and operate an ICE processing facility in an area that includes retail, hotels and restaurants.

Sean Davis, the county's board of supervisors chair, said the facility would cut into tax revenue but acknowledged at a packed meeting last week that there was only so much it could do to oppose it.

"The federal government is generally exempt from our zoning regulations," he said.

Dozens of speakers turned out — some in support of the facility and others opposed.

"You want what's happening in Minnesota to go down in our own backyard, build that detention center here and that's exactly what will happen," Kimberly Matthews of Mechanicsville told supervisors.

Trump

The Monday statement from the White House commemorating the anniversary of the war described the conflict as a "legendary victory that secured the American Southwest, reasserted American sovereignty, and expanded the promise of American independence across our majestic continent." The statement drew parallels between the period in U.S. history and its ownincreasingly aggressive policies toward Latin America, which it said would "ensure the Hemisphere remains safe."

"Guided by our victory on the fields of Mexico 178 years ago, I have spared no effort in defending our southern border against invasion, upholding the rule of law, and protecting our homeland from forces of evil, violence, and destruction," the statement said, though it was unsigned.

In the post, the White House makes no mention of the key role slavery played in the war and glorifies the wider"Manifest Destiny" period,which resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Native Americans from their land.

Sparking criticism

Alexander Aviña, Latin American history professor at Arizona State University, said the White House statement "underplays the massive amounts of violence that it took to expand" the U.S. to the Pacific shore at a time when the Trump administration has stuck its hand in Latin American affairs in a way not seen in decades,deposing Venezuela's president,meddling in electionsandthreatening military action in Mexicoand other countries.

"U.S. political leaders since then have seen this as an ugly aspect of U.S. history, this is a pretty clear instance of U.S. imperialism against its southern neighbor," Aviña said. "The Trump administration is actually embracing this as a positive in U.S. history and framing it – inaccurately historically – as some sort of defensive measure to prevent the Mexico from invading them."

On Tuesday, criticisms of the White House statement quickly rippled across social media.

Asked about the statement in her morning news briefing, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum guffawed, quipping and noting "we have to defend sovereignty." Sheinbaum, who has walked a tight rope with the Trump administration, has responded to Trump with a balanced tone and occasionally with sarcasm, like when Trump changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

Historical sticking point

Advertisement

TheMexican-American war (1846–1848)was triggered by long-running border disputes between the U.S. and Mexico and the United States' annexation of Texas in 1845. For years leading up to the war, Americans had gradually moved into the then-Mexican territory. Mexico had banned slavery and U.S. abolitionists feared the U.S. land grab was in part an attempt to add slave states.

After fighting broke out and successive U.S. victories, Mexico ceded more than 525,000 square miles of territory — including what now comprises Arizona, California, western Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah — to the U.S.

The moment turned Texas into a key chess piece during the U.S. Civil War and led former President Ulysses S. Grant to write later that the conflict with Mexico was "one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation."

The Associated Press was formed when five New York City newspapers funded a pony express route through Alabama to bring news of the Mexican War — as it is sometimes known in the U.S. — north faster than the U.S. Post Office could deliver it.

The war continues to be a historical sticking point between the two countries, particularly asSheinbaumrepeatedlyreminds Trump that her country is a sovereign nationwhenever Trump openly weighs taking military action against Mexican cartels andpressures Mexico to bend to its will.

Rewriting history

The White House statement falls in line with wider actions taken by the Trump administration to mold the federal government's language around its own creed, said Albert Camarillo, history professor at Stanford University, who described the statement as a "distorted, ahistorical, imperialist version" of the war.

Aviña said the statement serves "to assert rhetorically that the U.S. is justified in establishing its so-called 'America First' policy throughout the Americas," regardless of the historical accuracy.

The Trump administration has ordered the rewriting ofhistory on display at the Smithsonian Institution, saying it was "restoring truth and sanity to American history."

The administration hasscrubbed government websitesof history, legal records and data it finds disagreeable. Trump also ordered the government to remove any signs that "inappropriately disparage Americans past or living," including thosemaking reference to slavery, destruction of Native American cultures and climate change.

"This statement is consistent with so many others that attempt to whitewash and reframe U.S. history and erase generations of historical scholarship," Camarillo said.

Belichick won a record six Super Bowl titles as head coach of the New England Patriots before parting ways with the team after the 2023 season. Eligible for the Hall of Fame for the first time this year, news broke last week that he will not be part of the 2026 Hall of Fame class that will be announced Thursday night.

Belichick was up for selection alongside Patriots owner Robert Kraft and three senior player candidates in Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson, 49ers running back Roger Craig and Steelers defensive end L.C. Greenwood. Kraft reportedly also did not make the final cut.

The widespread speculation is that voters did not support Belichick being a "first-ballot" Hall of Famer because of the 2007 Spygate scandal and the Deflategate drama that resulted in a suspension for quarterback Tom Brady. Other voters have said they prioritized what is viewed as a backlog of worthy candidates whose windows to be voted into the Hall of Fame are running out.

McCourty took issue with the various requirements, including that at least four -- but no more than nine -- candidates can be elected annually.

"Shouldn't the Hall of Fame just be, 'Is this guy a Hall of Famer, yes or no?' And then we move forward," McCourty said on Tuesday ahead of working Super Bowl LX as a commentator for NBC Sports.

McCourty was a first-round pick in 2010 by the Patriots and went on to win three Super Bowl titles while playing 13 seasons for Belichick. He believes his former coach will reach the hallowed halls of Canton one day, but is concerned that his omission this year will be a storyline that overrides the induction of others.

"I think the travesty of all of this is this summer, there's gonna be a Hall of Fame induction and there's gonna be guys who are deserving of being in the Hall of Fame. And we can probably all bet that the top topic is gonna be Bill Belichick not being there," McCourty said. "And I think that's unfortunate because there are going to be players, coaches, contributors that are Hall of Fame worthy, but because this feels like a huge mistake, the only talk is going to be about the guys that didn't get into the Hall of Fame."

--Field Level Media

76ers Clippers Basketball

The NBA announced the rosters for this season's midseason showcase event on Tuesday night, splitting 25 names onto three squads. It's the debut of another new All-Star format — this oneU.S. vs. The World, on Feb. 15 at the Los Angeles Clippers' home in Inglewood, California.

It's a concept that Commissioner Adam Silver thinks will tap into national pride for the players and comes at a fitting time. The game will be aired on NBC, which is also broadcasting theMilan Cortina Olympicsthat start later this week and run through Feb. 22.

The U.S.-vs.-World concept was talked about for years beforebecoming a realitythis season. The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association unveiledthe long-awaited planin theirlatest attemptto spark renewed interest in the game following a largely panned tournament format last season.

The Clippers' Kawhi Leonard, likely the most deserving name left offthe original list of 24 All-Stars,was added to the pool of U.S. players Tuesday shortly before the rosters were unveiled. And that move likely was what sent New York's Karl-Anthony Towns to the World team.

Towns was born in New Jersey but has played international basketball for the Dominican Republic — his late mother's homeland.

The NBA had said in recent months that it would adjust roster sizes as needed to ensure all three teams had at least eight players, the minimum required under the new format. Giannis Antetokounmpo is not expected to play for the World team because of injury, which is why that squad has nine players.

The U.S. teams were split by age: The older players were assigned to USA Stripes, the younger ones to USA Stars.

The rosters:

USA Stripes

Jaylen Brown, Boston; Jalen Brunson, New York; Stephen Curry, Golden State; Kevin Durant, Houston; LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers; Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers; Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland; Norman Powell, Miami.

Coach: Mitch Johnson, San Antonio.

Advertisement

Scottie Barnes, Toronto; Devin Booker, Phoenix; Cade Cunningham, Detroit; Jalen Duren, Detroit; Anthony Edwards, Minnesota; Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City; Jalen Johnson, Atlanta; Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia.

Coach: J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee; Deni Avdija, Portland; Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City; Nikola Jokic, Denver; Jamal Murray, Denver; Pascal Siakam, Indiana; Karl-Anthony Towns, New York; Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio.

Coach: Darko Rajakovic, Toronto.

All games will be 12 minutes.

— Game 1: USA Stars vs. World.

— Game 2: USA Stripes vs. winning team of Game 1.

— Game 3: USA Stripes vs. losing team of Game 1.

— Game 4: Championship (top two teams from round-robin play). If all three teams finish 1-1 after the round-robin games, the first tiebreaker will be point differential across each team's games.

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/hub/NBA