Cleveland students protest ICE, Trump policies

RIO RANCHO — A group of Cleveland High School students protested President Donald Trump's policies and his use of ICE agents in an off-campus demonstration after school Tuesday.

The students, who stood on either side of Cleveland Heights Road Northeast, waved signs with messages like "Abolish ICE!" and "NO KINGS! NO DICTATORSHIP!" The demonstration occurred on the same day as the "Free America Walkout," organized by the national organization Women's March. The organization called on people to walk out of work and school on Jan. 20, the one-year anniversary of Trump's second term.

Cleveland junior Danita Sandoval organized the demonstration outside her school. As someone who is involved in CHS activities and follows current events, she said she wants to be involved in politics on what she calls "the right side." 

"I know there's (a) bad (side), but there's a better side — and everyone should be a part of that side," Sandoval said. "That's what I'm trying to show and preach here. I need more people to not be scared to put themselves out there."

Her sign read, "STOP PRETENDING YOUR RACISM IS PATRIOTISM! NO ICE!" The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has come under scrutiny during Trump's presidency for the way its agents have cracked down on law enforcement in major American cities, including Minneapolis, Minnesota. On Jan. 7, a woman named Renee Good was killed there by an ICE agent during a confrontation, an incident that gained national attention since it was captured on video.

"Many people say that it was her fault, but it was not — we have the video evidence," Sandoval said. "There's so much evidence to back up the fact that ICE shouldn't be doing what they're doing."

Tuesday's demonstration, Sandoval said, was not just about ICE, but Trump's policies.

 "There's more bad than good," she said.

CHS senior Adrianna Esparza said Tuesday was the first time she participated in a protest. She was motivated by the death of Good and ICE's actions in New Mexico and nationwide.

"(They're) being violent, detaining people without due process — and it's been happening for a long time, but right now, it's really reaching a climax, and we think that it's just something that should not be happening," Esparza said. 

A family member of one of her friends was deported by ICE on "a minor charge when they were young," causing Esparza to worry about what that might mean for her.

Esparza said she sees no end in sight for the need to protest.

"There's no time that you stop reaching for justice," Esparza said. 

CHS students continued their demonstration even after cars and buses had filed out of the school parking lot, taking any chance they could to hoop and holler when cars passed them by. Some vehicles honked with approval, while at least one driver came to a crawl, rolled down his window, and said, "That's what I'm talking about!"

Those reactions — and her peers' presence — gave Sandoval optimism.

"As long as people like us — kids — who are the future of this country push what we are pushing today, we'll be OK," Sandoval said.