LIVE: Bay Area students protest against ICE

OAKLAND, Calif. – Students across the Bay Area took to the streets on Friday during what’s been billed as a national day of action to protest the action of federal immigration officers following the deaths of two people in Minnesota.

Local perspective:

Teens and others protested and picketed in cities from San Jose to San Mateo, from Oakland to San Francisco, from San Leandro to San Rafael.

“We are doing this to show a shared interest, a shared passion for keeping ICE out of our schools and our community,” said Santa Teresa High School senior Elise Beal.

Lynnaya Mathews of San Lorenzo High, joined one of the protests because she feels the authorities have too much power.

“They are not God. They can’t be doing whatever they want,” she said. “I just feel like them being trigger-happy, like just using their military weapons and all their power, and for us, we’re all defenseless.”

Bay Area Students protest ICE on national day of action

The other side:

In an email regarding the executive orders against ICE and anti-ICE zones in the Bay Area, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson responded: “While California sanctuary politicians continue to release pedophiles, rapists, gang members, and murderers onto their streets, our brave law enforcement will continue to risk their lives to arrest these heinous criminals and make California safe again.”

What it looked like:

SkyFox flew overhead some of the demonstrations.

Here is what they looked like:

Dublin

Students at Dublin High school leave class to protest ICE, carrying signs that read “ICE Always Melts.”

Students at Dublin High school leave class to protest ICE. Jan. 30, 2026

San Mateo

Students in San Mateo walked out of school carrying “Melt ICE” signs and playing drums, as police were seen serving as safety escorts.

Up to 10,000 students were expected to join the protest from eight schools: Burlingame, San Mateo, Aragon, College of San Mateo, Abbott, Capuchino, Crystal Springs, and Hillsdale.

Thousands were seen in Central Park, waving signs and shouting.