8 GROUNDCOVER NEWS MELT ICE ICE Out protests and actions in Washtenaw! People in communities across the United States and Washtenaw County are not just protesting, they’re organizing response teams to support and protect their vulnerable immigrant MIKE JONES Groundcover vendor No. 113 Recent immigration arrests in Ypsilanti; the killings in Minneapolis, Minn., of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti; and the arrest of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, have sparked anti-ICE protests in Washtenaw County. As a result of ICE activities, communities all over America have been scheduling weekly protests. Since the start of 2026 Ann Arbor has had many significant, organized protest actions against ICE. Demonstrations included an “ICE Out for Good” rally in early January, and continued through February with walkout high school protests. Since early January, multiple ICE-out protests have occurred in Washtenaw County, with regular weekly demonstrations taking place on Saturdays at four major intersections in Ann Arbor: Plymouth and Green Road, Jackson Avenue and Maple Road, Stadium Boulevard and Main Street, Washtenaw Avenue and Huron Parkway In early February 2026, hundreds of students from multiple Washtenaw County high schools, including Pioneer, Skyline, Huron, and Community High Schools in Ann Arbor, as well as Augusta Township’s Lincoln High School, held walkouts and protests against ICE operations. These student-led demonstrations were organized to raise awareness and protest recent ICE activity in the area. neighbors. Teams in these communities provide practical needs like food, transportation and companionship, alongside connecting them with legal aid for immigration or safety concerns, and advocating for policies that protect their rights. Late January 2026, ICE arrested multiple individuals in the Ypsilanti area during a targeted operation. Identified individuals in connection with these incidents include Delmy Yamileth, Molina Vasquez, Gissel Alejandra Pavon Nunes, Carolina Hernandez-Aviles and Elder Alberto Veliz-Mencia. Another individual was detained during a targeted, separate vehicle stop, not at a school bus stop as initially reported. The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office and Ypsilanti Community School officials have expressed concern and dismay over the timing and location of the arrests. Ypsilanti Community Schools Superintendent Alena Zachery-Ross said, “The district aims to be a safe place for students,” and urged parents to have plans in case of immigration law enforcement presence. A spokesperson for ICE said the agency “does NOT target schools for enforcement actions or bus stop locations. To be clear, NO children were present during these arrests.” The people detained were in the United States illegally, the agency said, “and will remain in ICE custody pending immigration proceedings and will receive full due process.” The school district said it does not voluntarily cooperate with ICE and provides support to affected families. If you are looking for information on a potentially detained friend or family member, you can use the ICE Detainee Locator or call (866) 347-2423. Above: Skyline High students walked out at 12:40 p.m. Photo submitted by Eagles Abolish ICE. It is estimated 400 Huron High School students walked out of classes on Feb. 4. Above by Annabella Mi, below by Brody Turner. FEBRUARY 20, 2026 Photo essay: A2 highschoolers walk-out in protest of ICE Feb. 4 Community High students marched from their campus to the Liberty St. Post Office and rallied. Photo credit: Mike Jones
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