Thousands of students nationwide have participated in protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during 2026, according to a report released Monday by Defending Education, a national education watchdog organization.
The organization has launched a new database designed to track what it characterizes as left-wing demonstrations on college campuses. The database documents student-organized protests targeting ICE that have resulted in students missing classes to participate.
Background on ICE and Campus Activism
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is the federal agency responsible for immigration enforcement within the United States. The agency has been a frequent target of protests since its establishment in 2003, particularly during periods of heightened immigration enforcement.
Campus activism around immigration issues has historically fluctuated based on federal immigration policies and high-profile enforcement actions. Students have organized demonstrations, walkouts, and other forms of protest as methods of expressing opposition to various immigration enforcement practices.
Defending Education's Role
Defending Education describes itself as a national watchdog organization focused on monitoring campus activities. The group's new database represents an effort to systematically track protest activities at educational institutions across the country.
The organization's report specifically identifies the recent demonstrations as anti-ICE protests, indicating they are organized in opposition to the federal immigration enforcement agency's policies or actions.
The timing of increased protest activity in 2026 coincides with ongoing national debates over immigration policy and enforcement priorities, though the specific catalysts for the current wave of demonstrations were not detailed in the available information.
