On Jan. 30, Schools sat quiet. Restaurants lacked customers. Companies lacked employees. All as the streets across the country flooded with angry protesters, ready to make a change. For Ela Patel (10), the protests on Jan. 30 were more than just a skip day from school. They were personal.
“It makes me think about my grandparents a lot because although they’re not US citizens, they do have their green cards,” Patel said. “But it makes me worried for them.”
Patel’s grandmother, who immigrated from India, was recently denied citizenship and has been forced to continue living in the country through her green card, which is a form of identification that grants immigrants the right to live and work in the United States for a maximum of 10 years.
“She has been working her whole life. You know, the end goal was always to come to America and be an American citizen. She’s in America, but she’s not a citizen.” Patel said.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was created after the terrorist attacks on Sep. 11, 2001 as a safety precaution for the United States, however, since Donald Trump’s presidency, their principles have significantly changed. Patel is concerned about what could happen to her grandparents who don’t have citizenship as conditions worsen.
“It’s scary for them, because they are now older, and my grandparents, they don’t live in Colorado, they don’t live anywhere near us, and that is scary to think that something could happen to them. My family and I wouldn’t be able to protect them” Patel said.
Unfortunately, Patel’s grandparents aren’t the only ones in her family who are affected by ICE.
“I personally have an uncle who’s been waiting twelve years to come to America. Twelve years” Patel said. “He has a family and two daughters. He has never gotten arrested. He has no criminal record. He has a job. He is a model citizen, and he is still continuing to be pushed in that line.”
It’s extremely hard for Patel’s family to deal with the fact that their family is in India and might never get to experience the opportunities America has to offer, all because of how complicated and convoluted the process of obtaining citizenship is.
“Something that has been really hard for my mom is my uncle,” Patel said “It’s been something that my mom has to deal with, knowing that she can never really get her younger brother to America, and it’s out of her hands. That is something that haunts her every day”.
For Patel, the shock factor in learning about ice detention centers is not just the numbers, but it is seeing how the policies affect those who she loves the most. Because of this Patel feels that it is very important that she informs herself as much as possible on current issues.
“I stay very up to date, and I always, always fact check myself if I’m wrong,” Patel said.
Not only does Patel keep herself updated on current events regarding ICE, but she prioritizes sharing her knowledge of the truth with her friends, aiming to spread awareness on the severity of the situation.
“I would say almost all my friends, I talk to them at least once a week about what is happening,” Patel said. “I make sure that they are also aware, themselves, about what is going on in the world.”
ICE has been detaining immigrants, documented and undocumented, and Patel, like many others, tries to keep her opinions as reasonable as possible while still residing with the facts. As of Jan. 2026, 73,000 people are currently being held in ICE detention centers. This is a 75% increase from last year.
“I do think we need ICE as a government entity, but the way they are acting now is not okay,” Patel said. “They have been given too much power by the government, and they’re running loose doing whatever they want.”
Patel acknowledges that there is a reason ICE exists; however, she believes changes need to be made.
“They need structure,” she said. “We see the way they’ve been acting in ways we haven’t seen in past administrations. I think that is because they have been given so much power by the people in power.”
ICE has been given the authority to investigate, detain, and remove immigrants without a warrant which has led to cases of abuse of power. Without structure, ICE’s actions have caused intense controversy amongst all groups of people.
“They’re not going after criminals,” Patel said. “They’re going after innocent people who have come here to make a better life for themselves.”
Patel sees the hypocrisy of ICE—the initial point was to ensure national security and public safety—yet as the agents are sent to places of work, schools, and even court houses, she believes they are going back on their word.
“They’re pulling people off the streets, people they see in Walmart, people they see working.” Patel said. “They shot a woman, they shot a man. They’re killing people for no reason at all,”
Patel refers to the cases of Alex Pretti, Renee Good, and Keith Porter who were all American citizens.
For senior and protester Maya Grider these cases were the last straw in her anger. The protest was a chance for her to use her voice for those who can’t.
“I feel like we live in a really privileged bubble so we are less affected by the political situation,” Grider said. “However, I feel like it’s our duty as people from a place of privilege to stand up for people who are more directly affected.”
Also an attendee of the protest, Oliver Fuhrmeister (12) feels he made a difference, albeit small.
“I wanted to support the movement and I honestly don’t like what’s going on in the United States right now,” Fuhrmeister said.
For many people, the protest was the first step in making a change.
“For me, the protest signifies change,” Fuhrmeister said. “I think it’s really important.”
Fuhrmeister wants to remind people the only way to combat hate is to overcome them with love.
“I think it’s really important to love and be empathetic towards others,” Fuhrmeister said. “It’s important to put yourself in other people’s shoes even if it’s not affecting you personally.”
ICE as an entity leaves an impact on the community, good or bad. It has brought controversy, hate, and even connection. Grider reminds people it’s important to stay active and continue to speak out about what you believe is right.
“Treat people like people and prioritize humanity over everything else,” Grider said.
