Protesters against immigration enforcement and ICE at the University of Arizona in Tucson on Jan. 30, 2026.
Thousands of people marched through downtown Tucson onFriday afternoon, part of a nationwide strike and protest against ICE.
Businesses and schools across Tucson took part in the national strike, which called for people to stay home from work and school in protest of the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis this month, along with other ICE actions.
Protesters across the U.S. are calling for “no work, no school, no shopping” as part of a nationwide strike on Friday to oppose the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
Hundreds of students gathered on the University of Arizona campus to take part. A student organizer addressed participants with protest signs calling for justice for Renee Good, the Minneapolis woman killed when an ICE agent shot into her vehicle; and Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by U.S. Border Patrol agents.
“If they don’t care about people, we need to hit them where it hurts, and that’s money, so we are striking today,” a student organizer told participants during a speech on campus. Because the most powerful thing that we as workers and students can do is withhold our labor.”
About 1,000 educators from Tucson schools also joined the effort, according to organizers. Tiffany Kassel works with schools within the Tucson Unified school district.
"We want to make sure our kids are safe," she said. "By doing that, we also have to stand up for our community. And make sure that all of our children, no matter where they come from. So that’s what teachers were striving for today."
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Demonstrators gather on Hayden Lawn during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Connor Greenwall / KJZZ
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A protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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Protesters against immigration enforcement and ICE at the University of Arizona in Tucson on Jan. 30, 2026.
Alisa Reznick / KJZZ
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Students protest immigration enforcement and ICE near Interstate 17 and Beardsley Road in Phoenix.
Sky Schaudt / KJZZ
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A protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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A protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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Student organizer Hayden Nguyen speaks at a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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Barricades and private security were present on Old Main Lawn at Arizona State University's Tempe campus during a protest against ICE and immigration enforcement on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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A protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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A protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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A protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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Demonstrators gather around the Old Main lawn for a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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An organizer leads a chant during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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An organizer speaks during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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An hospitality worker discusses Unite Here Local 11's decision to authorize a strike against food services vendor Aramark during a protest at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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An organizer speaks during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Tempe Beach Park on Jan. 30, 2026. Protesters marched through downtown Tempe, from ASU's Old Main to the park.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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An organizer speaks during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Tempe Beach Park on Jan. 30, 2026. Protesters marched through downtown Tempe, from ASU's Old Main to the park.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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An organizer speaks during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Tempe Beach Park on Jan. 30, 2026. Protesters marched through downtown Tempe, from ASU's Old Main to the park.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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Organizer Hayden Nguyen speaks during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Tempe Beach Park on Jan. 30, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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Demonstrators gather on Hayden Lawn during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE on Jan. 30, 2026. Protesters marched through downtown Tempe from ASU's Old Main to Tempe Beach Park and then back to campus.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
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Protesters against immigration enforcement and ICE at the University of Arizona in Tucson on Jan. 30, 2026.
Alisa Reznick / KJZZ
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Protesters against immigration enforcement and ICE at the University of Arizona in Tucson on Jan. 30, 2026.
Alisa Reznick / KJZZ
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Protesters against immigration enforcement and ICE at the University of Arizona in Tucson on Jan. 30, 2026.
Alisa Reznick / KJZZ
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Joshua and TIffany Kassel protest against ICE in Tucson on Jan. 30, 2026.
Alisa Reznick / KJZZ
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Demonstrators march north on Mill Avenue during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE that began at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Connor Greenwall / KJZZ
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Demonstrators march on Mill Avenue during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE that began at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Connor Greenwall / KJZZ
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Demonstrators gather on Hayden Lawn during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Connor Greenwall / KJZZ
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Demonstrators march north on Mill Avenue during a protest against immigration enforcement and ICE that began at Arizona State University's Tempe campus on Jan. 30, 2026.
Connor Greenwall / KJZZ
Kassel says she spent the morning coordinating school staff to make up for those participating in the strike, and joined the large protest later on. She says some students in Tucson have been afraid to take part in extracurricular activities like orchestra because of the threat of ramped up ICE enforcement.
“We all think about our safety every day and the safety of our kids in the climate and environment we live in, even more so in this new, frankly horrifying, climate where children can be snatched from their classrooms and employees and others can be targeted as well,” she said.
Alisa Reznick
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KJZZ
Joshua and TIffany Kassel protest against ICE in Tucson on Jan. 30, 2026.
Kassel was at the demonstration with her children and husband Joshua, who said he came to show support for local schools and communities.
“We have a federal government that is out of control and we as people need to push back and let them know that this is not OK," he said. "And especially for folks who are like me, middle aged, white, it’s very important to make sure that our demographic get our faces out there,” he said.
At least 21 schools in the Tucson area saw class cancellations as a result of the strike, though campuses remained open for students to access transportation and food services.
Alisa Reznick is a senior field correspondent covering stories across southern Arizona and the borderlands for the Tucson bureau of KJZZ's Fronteras Desk.
At least 21 schools within the Tucson Unified School District are closed Friday due to staff shortages amid a nationwide protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
