Palmdale School Cracks Down on Students Leaving Campus for Trump Immigration Policy Protests
Administrators at Palmdale Academy Charter School have informed parents that students who leave campus to participate in off-campus demonstrations during school hours will be marked with an unexcused absence. This announcement came after about 100 students walked out of class, to protest President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
The walkout occurred just after noon and was part of a wave of student-led protests across Los Angeles County and beyond. School officials responded by stating that they would be notifying parents and guardians of the students who participated in the protest.
In a statement, Palmdale Academy Charter School emphasized the importance of fostering "open, respectful dialogue among students in a safe and welcoming environment." The school also expressed concern about the potential risks of students leaving campus without supervision, urging students to make informed and thoughtful decisions when participating in protests.
The protest in Palmdale came amid a series of demonstrations across Los Angeles, sparked by heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. Protests against Trump's deportation policies have been taking place regularly in downtown Los Angeles since Feb. 2, 2025, with hundreds of students from various high schools, including Marshall and Garfield, marching through the streets.
A particularly large protest occurred on Feb. 4, when hundreds of high school students marched through downtown Los Angeles, with some students briefly rallying on the 101 Freeway before continuing to City Hall. The demonstrations have been driven by concerns over the administration’s intensified efforts to enforce immigration laws, including planned ICE actions targeting immigrants with pending removal orders.
Palmdale Academy Charter School reiterated its commitment to supporting students as they "find their voices" in the face of challenging political times. The school’s stance reflects a delicate balance between encouraging student activism and ensuring students' safety while on school grounds.
