Anti-ICE Protests to Be Held Across the U.S. as Organizers Urge a National Strike

 

Across the United States, activists, students, business owners and community leaders are calling for major anti-ICE protests and a nationwide strike this week, as part of a broad demonstration against immigration enforcement practices and recent deaths linked to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The movement is rooted in outrage over federal immigration policies and specific incidents — particularly in **Minneapolis — and has spread rapidly to cities in dozens of states.

Organizers are urging Americans to participate in a “national shutdown” — a form of protest that involves no work, no school, and no shopping — this Friday, and are planning rallies and demonstrations throughout the weekend.

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What Organizers Are Calling For

The planned protests and strike actions are part of a strategy to:

• Pressure the federal government to reform or defund ICE

• Demand accountability for recent federal immigration operations

• Amplify community resistance to aggressive enforcement tactics

• Bring greater public attention to deaths involving ICE agents and detainees

Organizers describe the day of protest not simply as demonstrations, but as an economic and social statement — one that could have millions of participants across multiple sectors of society.

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“National Shutdown”: What It Means

The term “national shutdown” — sometimes referred to as a general strike or national strike — is being used by protest leaders to encourage:

• Workers to take a day off

• Students to walk out of school

• Consumers to avoid shopping and commerce

• Businesses to close or pause operations in solidarity

In some cities, restaurants, theaters, bookstores and small businesses have already committed to closing or offering community programs instead of normal business operations on the day of the strike.

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Student Walkouts and Youth Participation

High school and university students are playing a key role in mobilizing protests. Across Arizona, more than 30 schools are expected to see walkouts, while student unions at universities from Minnesota to Michigan have pledged support.

Organizers say youth participation is critical to the movement’s visibility and impact — especially among younger Americans who are emphasizing civic engagement and nonviolent protest.

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Business and Community Support

Support for the movement has extended beyond street marches:

• Some businesses in Colorado and Utah are closing or encouraging participation in the shutdown.

• Restaurants in New York City have pledged closures or community support in solidarity.

• Arts and entertainment venues, like the Roxie Theater in San Francisco, also closed to back the strike.

Despite economic risk, many business owners have cited moral concerns over immigration enforcement as their reason for joining the movement.

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Ongoing and Broader Protest Movement

Friday’s planned actions are part of a broader, ongoing wave of anti-ICE activism that has included:

• A statewide general strike in Minnesota earlier this month, where hundreds of businesses closed and thousands marched.

• Protests spreading from Minneapolis to major cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston and New York.

• Increasing coordination among national advocacy groups and grassroots movements.

These protests reflect a growing national debate over immigration policy, law enforcement accountability, and the role of federal agencies in local communities.