On Feb. 11, from approximately 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., many Granite Bay High School students participated in an intraschool walkout to protest the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), citing nationally reported incidents that resulted in the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good (among others), whose cases have widely circulated on social media in recent weeks. 

Launched from the Instagram account @granitebayhighschoolwalkout and @gbhsrealwalkout (the latter later merged into the first’s movement, with their respective organizers coordinating a collective demonstration), the group of students participated in two waves: one following second period, and the other starting during third period intervention. An estimated 100 students participated in the march.

“We hope that people are more aware of…the way that ICE is being administered within this current administration. They’ve been completely ignoring habeas corpus and the right to due process for so many people,” a student who walked out said.

At first, students collected in front of the grizzly bear statue, and then walked along Wellington Way, stopping at intersections with Eureka Road and finally, Sierra College Boulevard. Many upperclassmen, who have their last period off, used their time to support the event, driving around the protests, honking their horns and showing off signs out of their windows.

“I think that enforcement is necessary. We don’t want an open border,” another student who walked out said. “But I think that the way they’re going about it is just inhumane, and we’re not treating people how we should.”

This event is in response to Sacramento-wide student walkouts held Jan. 30, in which many GBHS students participated. According to an anonymous source, the organizers wanted to stage an event of their own for Granite Bay, replicating those held by Roseville High School and McClatchy High School.

“There were a lot of people who were, like ‘America is better’ and ‘immigrants need to be kicked out.’ There was somebody who opened their gas exhaust on us and gave us a full cloud of black,” a student who walked out said. This student’s account has been confirmed as of Feb. 23 2026.

According to their social media, the organizers discussed their plan with the school administration, who affirmed that as long as students notified the office ahead of time and provided parent confirmation, they would not be counted as absent and need to use their civic disobedience absence. Many students participated until that point, when they returned to their classrooms. Others decided to use their civic disobedience absence, staying at the intersection of Sierra College Boulevard and Wellington Way until 3 p.m..

The march also raised questions regarding the effectiveness of student walkouts as opposed to calls to local representatives or petitions in the long run.

“I heard of a lot of people just going to Chick‑fil‑A or Chipotle instead of actually going on the walkout,” an anonymous student, who does not support the walkouts, said. “I will defend anyone’s First Amendment rights to the death…but I also value a right to an education, and I think that to skip out on your education just because you are politically active is irresponsible.”

Others had different views, reaffirming the validity of peaceful demonstrations historically.

“Well, I would ask [those that disagree with the protests] if the March on Washington did anything,” a student at the walkout said. “I mean, it’s about visibility, and it’s about understanding that this is something that matters to us, even if we don’t have the tools to immediately enact change.”