Jaelani Lenaiyah William (11) and a group of organizers Madelyne Balthazor (11) and Shwe Sein Tun (12) used an Instagram video as a way of connecting with protesters at Albert Lea High School and communicating exactly what they wished to happen on Jan. 13.

“Her video got a couple 1000 views,” said Balthazor. “So that was definitely probably one of the big ways that we were able to get as many people as we did.”

They needed to act fast and make sure that they were on the same page and that everyone who wanted to participate could partake in the protest and do so safely.

“We started by talking to a few adults I know,” said Tun. “And the more we talked to them, the more help we got from them and they gave us advice on how to do this safely.”

To do this they had two groups, one for people who rode the bus who would stay on the school grounds to protest so they could get to their bus on time, and then the group who could get rides who would march past the stop lights off campus.

“My family could be and is directly affected by the racial profiling that ICE agents have been allowed to do within Minnesota,” said William.

The organizers also took precautions just in case the authorities did show up.

“We had mentioned to bring your passport or your ID,” said Balthazor. “And just in case, ICE or something did show up, that we had that safety plan in place. I had talked to Gaston [ALHS Principal Sean Gaston], and he sent himself and another teacher with both groups, and we had some parent volunteers that came and watched the kids just in case someone did come.”

William also makes it clear that the people who are taken and threatened by ICE are not and should not be the only ones fighting.

“Why do you expect a complete community if you don’t stand up for your neighbors rights?” said William in the Instagram video. “Are you waiting for me to be grabbed out of my home?”

The looming presence of ICE in Albert Lea is something that many community members and students are reporting feeling anxiety about. According to the United States Census Bureau 14.9% of the population of Albert Lea is Hispanic.

“I know that ICE has been here, and I know that there were some kids who went home after their parents had been detained, and so so much of it is dependent on school districts doing right by kids,” said Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota, Peggy Flanagan on the importance of community. “All of us in communities where we live, using our voices to push back, being constitutional observers, legal observers, telling the truth about what’s happening on the ground and about the truth about what this means for the city and community.”

The protest wasn’t just for ALHS students, but to defend the community as a whole.

“I feel like they’re definitely abusing their power,” said Balthazor. ”We just don’t want that here. I don’t think anyone wants that.”

However, they were not just worried about the presence of ICE or the authorities, but the reaction of the community and their classmates.

“Obviously there are lots of people who were talking about it and saying all these things,” said Balthazor. “But you just kind of have to try and ignore it, because you’re standing up for something that you believe in, and that’s what’s important.”

But no matter how they reacted or prepared, there was still some push back. They got threats, people threw things at protesters and one driver seemed to harass the bus group by going around in their vehicles and blowing the exhaust in their faces and blowing air horns at them.

“Everyone’s a human,” Tun said. “We all bleed the same blood color, everyone has feelings, so just treat everybody equally.”

Timeline of Events of ICE in Minnesota:

In December 2025, Operation Metro Surge began in the Twin Cities. ICE was sent to apprehend and deport undocumented immigrants. The operation then spread to greater Minnesota.

On January 7, 2026 Renee Good was fatally shot by ICE.

On January 9, 2026 Minneapolis schools closed due to safety concerns because ICE agents were reportedly tackling students and using pepper spray and pepper balls against students.

On January 9, 2026 Albert Lea Area Schools superintendent Steven Heil emailed district families about the outside agency procedures.

On January 12,  a suit was filed against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to stop ICE deployments by the Twin Cities and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

On January 14, At least 60 Albert Lea High School students walked out. Principal Sean Gaston said, “The right to peacefully assemble is a fundamental right in our country — and one that citizens in many other parts of the world do not enjoy. The protections of the Constitution do not disappear at the schoolhouse door, and within appropriate parameters, students’ exercise of First Amendment rights is an important and legitimate part of civic life.”

On January 15, the Albert Lea police department shared a statement on Facebook after three men who are not employed by ALPD identified themselves as police officers at an Albert Lea trailer park. “ALPD enforces Minnesota state law and City ordinances. We do not enforce federal immigration law and do not participate in federal immigration operations. Those responsibilities rest solely with federal agencies, and we are not typically notified in advance of their activity,” the post said.

On January 23, an estimated 50,000 protesters and strikers participated in “ICE Out of Minnesota”.  Due to this many businesses and institutions shut down.

On January 24, Alex Pretti was fatally shot by ICE agents in Minneapolis.

On January 24, Governor Tim Walz deployed the National Guard at the request of the Minneapolis Police Chief and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.