Fresno County Superintendents Urge End to Off-Campus Walkouts After ICE Actions

A coalition of Fresno County school leaders pushed back on continuing student walkouts over federal immigration enforcement actions, saying off-campus protests put pupils at risk and jeopardize classroom learning. The joint open letter, signed by county Superintendent Michele Cantwell-Copher and district leaders including Fresno Unified Superintendent Misty Her and Clovis Unified Superintendent Corrine Folmer, asked students to remain on campus and use school spaces to express their views.

The letter, described by superintendents as sent Saturday evening, said in part: “Students who are off campus during the school day are without supervision and at risk of accident or injury. We have also heard that some students are being approached online by adults outside the school community to organize protests, further increasing safety risks.” It added, “Your partnership is essential in helping us ensure both the safety and academic success of every student,” and urged parents to “speak with their children about the importance of remaining in class.” The letter also reminded families that state law allows one excused absence per year for civic action only when schools are notified in advance and standard checkout procedures are followed.

The walkouts began Jan. 30, the day of a national general strike against ICE, and continued through February in multiple Fresno-area districts. Fresnoland reported that students from several Fresno Unified schools converged on Fresno City Hall, while Bullard High students marched to Fashion Fair Mall and Edison High and Roosevelt High students also marched to City Hall. Clovis Unified students walked out Tuesday; the Fresno Bee is quoted variously as saying “dozens” and also “hundreds” of Clovis students participated. A student interviewed by Fresnoland said the demonstration was organized through an Instagram post that listed the names of more than 15 middle schools and high schools.

Fresnoland’s on-the-ground reporting said some protesters congregated at a bank near the ICE office in Fresno and “began throwing items at the building.” Fresno police, via Lt. Larry Bowlan, said by text: “At some point, a few students from two different middle schools got into a verbal confrontation and officers separated and detained a couple of the involved juveniles and had their parents come pick them up.” Bowlan and police noted there were no arrests related to the incident.

The steady stream of walkouts prompted criticism from Fresno County Supervisor Garry Bredefeld, who told reporters large numbers of students continuously leaving campuses created safety issues, while a Fresno Bee opinion piece argued county supervisors mishandled the protests and called some walkouts justified acts of civil disobedience. EdSource placed the Fresno area activity in the wider context of California and nationwide student protests in response to recent killings by immigration enforcement officers.

Superintendents said they respected students’ free speech on campus but emphasized safety and learning. Outstanding details remain public: a definitive roster of the “group of 10 superintendents” who signed the letter, exact counts of participating students at each school, and confirmation of any property damage at the bank near the ICE office. The protests have continued across Fresno County into February, and district leaders say they will balance safety protocols with students’ rights to expression.