Tri-Cities residents join nationwide anti-ICE strike. Here’s what to know
Communities across the United States are participating in a general strike Friday, Jan. 30 in response to mass raids and detentions by federal immigration officials.
The ICE Out strike protests increased activity by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol.
Under the Trump administration, federal immigration officials have ramped up activity across the country, leading to numerous protests.
This January, two killings by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis sparked nationwide outrage. Renee Good and Alex Pretti were shot as agents ran rampant in high-traffic areas of the city.
Other people have died or been injured in dealings with ICE so far in 2026.
Friday’s general protest is a national shutdown calling for the removal of ICE agents and protesting recent ICE activity.
What is ICE Out strike on Friday? How can I participate?
The national Ice Out shutdown calls for “no work, no school and no shopping,” according to the official protest website.
By halting daily habits and pulling money out of the economy for the day, protesters hope to show U.S. leaders they do not want to continue funding ICE.
“The entire country is shocked and outraged at the brutal killings of Alex Pretti, Renee Good, Silverio Villegas González and Keith Porter Jr. by federal agents,” Ice Out organizers said on the website. “While Trump and other right-wing politicians are slandering them as ‘terrorists,’ the video evidence makes it clear beyond all doubt: they were gunned down in broad daylight simply for exercising their First Amendment right to protest mass deportation.”
Actions have been planned at numerous cities across the country Friday as part of the shutdown.
Demonstrators are lining the streets, students are walking out of class and businesses are closing for the day in support of the strike.
“Every day, ICE, Border Patrol and other enforcers of Trump’s racist agenda are going into our communities to kidnap our neighbors and sow fear,” ICE Out organizers said. “It is time for us to all stand up together in a nationwide shutdown and say enough is enough!”
How will the general strike impact Tri-Cities?
Many Tri-Citians are taking part in the general strike.
Supporters are encouraged to refrain from shopping and stay home from work if they can.
If you must shop, support a local business over a corporation, organizers said.
In particular, ICE Out supporters are asked to avoid major supporters of the Trump administration including Amazon, Wells Fargo, Hilton, McDonald’s and Walmart.
Which can I participate in the national shutdown?
Boycott Citizens offers a list of companies that specifically collaborate with ICE, encouraging Americans to boycott or divest from the companies.
“It’s ICE or us,” the Boycott Citizens website says.
Indivisible Tri-Cities is hosting its monthly Whistle Factory, where attendees can build whistles to hand out to neighbors and community members.
Always held on the fourth Friday of the month, the Whistle Factory is from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday at the Richland Public Library at 955 Northgate Drive.
Are Tri-Cities students walking out of schools?
In Tri-Cities, students at several local high schools have planned walkouts as part of the shutdown.
Here’s when students plan to walk out, and where they plan to protest:
- Southridge High School: 10:45 a.m., Gesa Carousel of Dreams, Kennewick
- Richland High School: 11:15 a.m., Thayer Drive, Swift Blvd. and George Washington Way, Richland
- Hanford High School: 11:20 a.m., George Washington Way, Richland
- Kennewick High School: 11:30 a.m., Garfield Street and First Avenue, Kennewick
- Kamiakin High School: 11:35 a.m., Clearwater Avenue and Edison Street, Kennewick
In a statement, the Richland Police Department said it is not overseeing or organizing the events.
Richland police officers will be present “solely to support student safety, facilitate safe movement to John Dam Plaza and maintain traffic flow,” the agency said in a Facebook post.