Edison High School students march against ICE, joining a growing national youth protest movement
About 100 Edison High School students walked out after a half day of classes, marched to the municipal building, and held a peaceful rally calling for an end to immigration enforcement practices they say are tearing families apart.
Roughly 100 Edison High School students marched from campus to the municipal building during the protest. (The Central Jerseyan)
Chris Howell | February 5, 2026
Roughly 100 students from Edison High School left campus shortly after noon on Thursday. They marched over snow mounds, in freezing temperatures, and through township streets to the municipal building to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and then marched back to the school.
The student-led demonstration began at the end of the school’s scheduled half day and unfolded peacefully under police escort. Edison police officers temporarily halted traffic along the route, and several students were seen thanking officers for helping keep the march safe as it moved through busy intersections.
At the municipal building, students gathered briefly to chant, hold handmade signs, and speak out against immigration enforcement policies. Many signs called for the abolition of ICE, while others emphasized themes of human rights, belonging, and solidarity with immigrant families.
“This isn’t just something happening far away,” said Joaquin, a senior at Edison High School. “It starts in our community, and it starts with us. This can’t be a one-day thing.”
DON’T LET AN ALGORITHM DECIDE YOUR NEWS
Independent hyperlocal news that’s fast, fair, and accurate.
Several students who spoke with The Central Jerseyan said their opposition to ICE was shaped by personal and family experiences with immigration, as well as fear that deportations separate families and create widespread anxiety in immigrant communities.
“I have a voice, and I need to speak up,” said Sanai, a sophomore. “What they’re doing to innocent people and children is not okay. If we don’t speak up, who will?”
Federal officials, however, have repeatedly defended immigration enforcement actions by arguing that agents are prioritizing individuals with serious criminal backgrounds. Department of Homeland Security officials have said recent operations are focused on immigrants accused or convicted of violent crimes, including sexual assault and offenses involving children.
In recent press releases, DHS highlighted arrests in New Jersey of undocumented immigrants it described as having criminal records, including cases involving sexual offenses and obstruction of justice. Officials have pointed to such arrests as evidence that enforcement efforts are aimed at public safety threats rather than broad or indiscriminate deportations.
Many of the Edison students said they reject that framing. Several argued that immigration enforcement sweeps extend far beyond people convicted of serious crimes and instead generate fear among families who pose no threat.
“My mother has done more than anyone I’ve ever met,” said one student, whose family immigrated to the United States. “She deserves to stay here. She doesn’t deserve to live in fear.”
Another sophomore said the issue goes beyond individual cases. “No family deserves to be separated,” the student said. “They say they’re only deporting criminals, but that’s not what we’re seeing.”
The Edison march comes the same week high school students rallied against ICE in Plainfield, and follows similar student-led protests in Georgia and Minneapolis, signaling a broader national trend of youth activism centered on immigration policy.
After a brief rally at the municipal complex, the group marched back to Edison High School without incident. No arrests were reported, and police presence remained focused on traffic control and public safety throughout the demonstration.
For many of the students, Thursday’s protest was less about disruption and more about visibility, a statement that young people are paying attention, organizing locally, and inserting themselves into a national debate they say directly affects their lives.
Editor’s note: The Central Jerseyan is free to read and supported by advertising. If you value this kind of local reporting and want to help sustain it, you can become a citizen supporter on Patreon. Your contribution helps fund continued coverage of local government, schools, and community issues.