Xavier students march in wake of ICE killings, raids across the nation

By Melody Daniels 

Xavier students marched in solidarity with protests across the country demanding the respect of constitutional rights and protection of citizens and residents after disruptive immigration raids and the killing of U.S. citizensin Minnesota by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.  

Students chanted “Say it once, say it twice, we will not put up with ICE” as they marched along Washington Avenue on Jan. 30. They said that although the ICE-related deaths may not have occurred in New Orleans or on Xavier’s campus, participants felt compelled to stand up for affected communities nationwide.  

“With immigrant families, with innocent lives being taken, it’s not right,” said Jaelyn Stewart, a Junior, Public Health major from Louisiana. “We are showing that students have a voice, and we are not in agreement with this. At the end of the day, this is not a Minneapolis issue; this is all of our issue,” she said. 

Students say the recent walkout was the first significant act of collective resistance on campus for 2026. Last year, a student protest against university housing drew about 9 students, yet faculty emphasize the importance of student resistance, even if it seems insignificant.  

“Historically, student movements have played an important role in pushing issues like civil rights, war, and immigration into the public spotlight,” said Dr. Russell Frazier, the Department Head of Political Science and Sociology. “Even when policy doesn’t immediately change, protests can influence how people think, what questions get asked, and whose voices are taken seriously,” Frazier said. 

Activism is not a new concept on Xavier’s campus. In 1961, members of the Freedom Riders were housed at St. Michael’s Residence Hall for a week as they faced violent backlash for challenging segregation across the South. Their presence on campus illustrated Xavier as a site of protection and resistance, a legacy that students continue to draw from today.   

Trinity Johnson, a senior mass communication major at Xavier and an organizer of The Black Student Resistance Network, which coordinated the solidarity march, said she was proud to see so many students taking collective action. “My voice started cracking. I had to give my friend the microphone because I was so emotional,” Johnson said. “The heart of Xavier is there; those who want to lead. If you look at Xavier’s archives, we wereactive. I feel like our sentiment towards activism has dwindled,” she said. 

Johnson, a Massachusetts native, said she encourages students to move beyond online engagement and take tangible action when confronted with injustice. “We’ll repost on social media, but we won’t take action,” Johnson said. “I know it can feel embarrassing or scary to speak up, but so is being deported from your own country.  Be able to step outside of yourself and stand for something bigger than you,” she said. 

Despite the nationwide demonstrations, immigration policy can be an everyday concern for members of Xavier’s international community, who must navigate complex immigration policies while still in school. 

According to Dr. Yu Jiang, the director of Xavier’s Office of International Education, the office works to ensure students maintain their visa status so they can remain focused on their academic and professional goals. His office provides immigration guidelines that not only ensures compliance to the law, but also provides resources for those who may need it during this time. 

“We are committed to providing the high-quality guidance and support necessary to maintain F or J visa status, enabling our international community to focus on academic excellence, professional growth, and meaningful contributions to our campus and society,” Jiang said.