TRUCKEE, Calif. — More than 600 students across the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District walked out of class Jan. 30 as part of a nationwide “shutdown” protesting recent federal immigration enforcement.

“Students kept asking, ‘Can I leave my backpack here? Can I go outside?’ And I kept telling them, I can’t give you permission — this has to be your own decision,” said a TTUSD staff member who requested anonymity. “It was cool seeing them choose for themselves and decide what they wanted to do.”

According to TTUSD, approximately 250 students at Truckee High School, 200 at Alder Creek Middle School and 175 at North Tahoe High School participated in the walkouts. Students gathered with signs on or around campus, and most returned to their classrooms afterward.

At all TTUSD sites, administrators and staff were present to supervise and ensure the demonstrations remained peaceful. Teachers remained in their classrooms to provide uninterrupted instruction for students who chose not to participate.

“We did not promote or organize the events; however, we do respect our students’ rights to express themselves peacefully,” said Amber Burke, coordinator of district communications and parent engagement at TTUSD.

Juan Delgadillo and Jayleen Jacobo, eighth-grade students at Alder Creek Middle School, said they learned earlier that day about a planned walkout and decided to participate. They said lessons on freedom of speech in their history class helped them feel more confident expressing their views.

“We were protesting against ICE because we don’t support how they are deporting people and separating families,” Delgadillo said. “I don’t support ICE.”

The nationwide movement responds to recent federal immigration enforcement and several high-profile fatal shootings involving federal immigration agents. Organizers of the ‘National Shutdown’ encouraged supporters to stay home from work and school and refrain from shopping for the day to apply economic pressure to “stop funding ICE.”