By Madeline Bates
Mail

Today, millions of individuals across the country are refusing to go to school, work and businesses to protest the Trump Administration’s use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE officers. The protest stems from anger and sadness following the deaths of Alex Pretti, a VA nurse and Renee Good, a Minnesota mom, both of whom were shot multiple times by officers and died from their injuries.

Tempe school districts like Kyrene Elementary and Tempe Union High School District say that they will all count students absent should they leave class in protest. Mesa Public Schools will as well.

Politicians have joined in the ICE protests as well. Rep. Yassamin Ansari led a protest last week in downtown Phoenix and announced that she is introducing legislation that would rid the organization of its funding.

“What they are doing is lawless, it is disgusting, it is un-American, and it needs to stop,” she said in a video on Instagram.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was passed by Congress in July of 2025, $170 billion over the four years of Trump’s term with a goal of deporting over one million immigrants each year.

Many believe that this is excessive and are pushing back.

Businesses across the Valley are closed today in protest of the deaths of Pretti and Good and the continued force and arrests across the country.

The American Immigration Council found that in 2025 alone, immigration detention centers grew by 75% in 2025, and there are an estimated 100,000 people in detention centers in the U.S. and beyond.

Schools and local municipalities say that they will comply with all law enforcement that has a warrant; however, student and parent privacy will be protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA.

Tempe Union High School said that while they will not confront a student walking out, they do encourage students to stay at the school for their safety.

“Our schools will continue to operate as normal, with a strong focus on maintaining a safe, supportive and stable environment. For these reasons, we strongly encourage students to remain in class throughout the school day,” said Megan Sterling, chief of staff at Tempe Union High School District.

Students at all Tempe and Mesa public schools will be counted absent should they leave class or not attend and will have to speak with their teachers about what they missed during the instructional period.

To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.

Madeline Bates
Reporter | Tempe/East Phoenix

mbates@iniusa.org

Meet Madeline

Madeline Bates joined Independent Newsmedia in 2025 as a Phoenix/Tempe reporter. Before graduating college, she spent a semester in Washington as a Congressional reporter in the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. But local news is where her heart is. She is excited to be in Phoenix full time and exploring new parts of the city (as long as they have AC).  

Community: After living in East Phoenix for two years, she fell in love with Paradise Valley, Mesa, Tempe, and everywhere in between. She recently discovered the beauty of the South Mountain Reserve and hopes to continue exploring should the weather comply.

Education: Madeline has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and a certificate in Political History and Leadership.

Random Fact: She is a self-taught nail tech. No, she cannot do your nails.

Hobbies: Hiking (when its not 100 degrees), fiction writing, cooking, baking and trying new coffee shops.