Downey students walk out of campus to support unauthorized immigrants

Warren High School senior and co-president of Rally The Youth Organization, London Blanco, delivers a speech to Warren and Downey High School students in front of Downey City Hall, advocating against mass deportations on Thursday, February 6, 2025. (Photo by Vincent Medina)

DOWNEY — Hundreds of students poured out of Warren and Downey High School and marched to city hall at noon on Thursday to protest the mass deportation of immigrants lacking permanent legal status. The demonstration was organized by Rally The Youth Organization, a group led by seniors at the two high schools.

The co-presidents of the group, Daniel Arias and London Blanco, from Warren High School coordinated with Ulysses Ayala, from Downey High School to organize the walkout of over 400 students combined.

“We want to bring local awareness to people in the local area, in the city of Downey,” said Arias. ”We want to spread awareness to the city council. So hopefully we start at a local level and move to the county, and then the state.

We want to educate, advocate and unify.”

The group shared stories from friends and family members that were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, or now feared leaving their home because of their immigration status.

Rally The Youth also made sure students knew their rights if they were confronted by an ICE agent. They emphasized that a person does not have to open their door (to their car or home) or submit to a search from an immigration officer unless the officer has a signed warrant from a judge, as confirmed by the National Immigrant Justice Center.

Ashley Catanzano, media relations person for Downey Unified School District, said that while ICE agents have not visited any Downey schools, the officers will be denied entry if they do not have a signed warrant.

“Unfortunately, (if a student missed class for the walkout) it's an unexcused absence,” said Catanzano. ”Our attendance policy [is] any student who left campus without permission will just receive the unexcused absence. Their parents will be notified of their absence, and then it's up to them if they want to clear it or how they want to proceed.”

Since both are public high schools, Catanzano said the district is required to allow students to exercise their rights, including their ability to peacefully assemble and express their First Amendment rights. They coordinated with school staff and the Downey Police Department to ensure students were safe and stayed on the sidewalk.

A law enforcement vehicle drove on the far right lane to add extra space between students and oncoming traffic.