'I Love ICE' Sign Gets Chicago High Schooler Punched by Fellow Student at Anti-ICE Protest

A Chicago high school student was attacked after he held up a sign supporting ICE during an anti-immigration protest. Danny Spud said he was 'the only one that decided to hold a sign that said "I Love ICE"' when his classmates walked out to demonstrate against federal immigration enforcement.

Instead of letting him share his view, Spud said he was assaulted. 'I was assaulted—Just for standing up for law enforcement', he wrote on X. The teenager asked what was happening to America when supporting federal agencies gets you attacked by other students.

Chicago Schools See Protests Spread

Spud's experience happened as anti-ICE walkouts swept through Chicago-area high schools. Students from Amundsen High School, Mather High School, Northside College Prep, and Roosevelt High School walked out of class and marched to River Park. They chanted 'ICE out' and held signs demanding change.

Roosevelt High School's principal Dan Kramer said that 'the ICE deportation activity has had a deeply traumatic impact on our families and school community'. He said students stood up to say the school 'stands tall in resistance to these tactics'.

But things haven't stayed peaceful everywhere. At East Aurora High School, about 1,500 students walked out, and three ended up arrested. One officer got hurt, too.

Aurora Police Chief Matt Thomas said the videos people saw online only showed 'a brief excerpt from a nearly three-hour-long incident'. He claimed the walkout started peaceful but 'the situation later escalated in ways that created public safety concerns'. Young protesters demanded the chief resign after seeing footage of students being thrown to the ground.

Dozens of students at Oak Park and River Forest High School also walked out at 2 pm. The school's Garden Club led the demonstration. After leaving class, they marched to Congressman Danny Davis' office to push for action against deportations.

Personal Fears Drive Student Activism

Many students said they're protesting because ICE operations scare their families. Krystal Portilla, 18, from Amundsen High School, remembered having nightmares when she was 9 about Trump detaining her father during his first term. Her dad was trying to get legal permanent residency back then.

When federal agents came to Chicago in large numbers recently, those old fears came back. 'Now they were at our doors, our neighbourhoods, my school', Portilla said. She added that when 'ICE came to Chicago I froze, suspended in terror'.

Angelique Guzman from Mather High School said agents are targeting people based on appearance. 'They look Hispanic and they only speak Spanish, so they are a targeted demographic', she explained. Even though her family has legal status, she still worries. 'If you are a minority, you are a target', Guzman said.

Students from Downers Grove North and Downers Grove South High Schools left around 12:45 p.m. and met near the downtown train station. Imarie Romero, a senior, said 'I feel like it's very dehumanising what they're doing to people, legal or illegal. I don't support that at all'.

The protests come after Operation Midway Blitz, which led to thousands of detentions across Chicago. Some neighbourhoods started watching for ICE agents and helping families stay safe.

Questions About Safety and Free Speech

Spud's pro-ICE sign put him in the minority at his school. His choice to publicly back immigration enforcement during an anti-ICE protest got him attacked. School officials haven't said anything about the assault or if anyone will face punishment.

The incident raises questions about whether students who disagree with the majority view can safely speak up during these heated demonstrations.