Chandler district students renew ‘ICE out’ demands

By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

When one Perry High School student was asked what it was about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that led him to protest on Feb. 3, there was a laundry list.

“The masks, the deportations with no hearings, the raids, the violence that’s out of hand — there’s a lot,” said Camilo, who held a sign when he marched alongside about 200 other Perry students.

Students walked off campus Friday at the start of second period, assembling along Queen Creek Road in front of the school’s main office, then marching along that road to the Val Vista Drive intersection.

Camilo said he hopes Congress and the courts will rein in ICE tactics and demand more due process and less aggression.

“We know our history,” Camilo said. “We know this level of violence never ends well. We cannot keep going like this, or we’ll just have the people and a Gestapo.”

Camilo said he believes the Trump administration tries to divide Latinos and pit them against each other.

“That’s a manipulation that I don’t think is fair,” he said. “We’ve got to stand together, care for each other and speak for those who can’t.”

Another student, Jada, said speaking for the voiceless and vulnerable and future generations are important to her.

“This isn’t about immigration anymore,” she said about ICE tactics. “We have to stand up and make sure we’re on the right side of history.”

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INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.