ICE (U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is a federal law enforcement agency under the U.S Department of Homeland Security. After, and even before the inauguration of President Trump as the 47th President of the United States, ICE has made many appearances, causing fear among many who may feel threatened by their citizenship status. 

According to CalMatters reporter Jeanne Kuang, “The [Trump] administration has directed the Immigration and Customs Enforcement to expand use of a process called “‘expedited removal’”: deportations that are allowed to bypass immigration courts, where a judge would normally decide the merit of allowing someone to stay in the country.”

Ever since Trump’s last term as president in 2016, he has made it clear that his attempts of altering immigration policies and enacting mass deportation remains one of his goals. Examining this presidency, we can see much of these same ideologies being put into effect as it has taken a toll on immigrants and their families’ daily lives. 

“President Donald Trump returned to office last month with a major show of force on immigration, issuing numerous orders and directives to dramatically increase enforcement,” reporter Kuang continues.

President Trump continues to work towards this quote “expedited removal”, which is a stepping stone towards mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, housing a fear in many that it may be the near future. 

The daily lives of these families who have worked to create a living in the United States of America are now interrupted, as their constitutional rights are being stripped from them. The Millikan community and the communities of many of our fellow Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) high schools have taken a stand to this realistically possible future by organizing protests mostly referred to as “walk-outs” where students exit the school as a sign of exerting their 5th amendment rights. 

This has brought together LBUSD, as schools such as Long Beach Poly, Jordan, Wilson, McBride, and Millikan have taken a stand to revolutionize their rights in this time. 

In an interview with Alex Moreland, an assistant principal here at Millikan, she says,  “We became aware of social media saying that there was going to be walkouts across the district,” and continued by assuring that, “ICE is not allowed on any campus in the district.”

To learn more about the student walk out, please read Nicole’s story here.

Millikan Administration has also released a statement pertaining to these walk-outs that have taken place here at Millikan on Friday, February 7 and again on Wednesday, February 12 after lunch. This can be found in your school email and has also been sent out to all parents/guardians.

Using signs and posters stating, “Love Thy Neighbor” and “Honk if you know an immigrant,” many of our own students here at Millikan have continued to take a stand for their rights by protesting on the intersection of Palo Verde and Spring St. (McDonalds crosswalk). 

We hope that during this time, Millikan students understand the situation and their rights. 

Ms. Cox, an AP Biology and Freshman SEGA Biology teacher here at Millikan is one teacher who is letting students know their rights are still as present as ever, even with the possibility of a raid. To remind Millikan students of their rights, Cox is handing out “Red Cards” to all her classes and sharing them with her teacher friends as well.

Red Cards are small business card sized slips of paper that can be used to reinforce your rights when it comes to a situation where it might be necessary. Red Cards include the following statements that can be used to protect you:

• I do not wish to speak with you, answer your questions, or sign or hand you any documents based on my 5th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution.
• I do not give you permission to enter my home based on my 4th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution unless you have a warrant to enter, signed by a judge or magistrate with my name on it that you slide under the door.
• I do not give you permission to search any of my belongings based on my 4th Amendment rights.
• I choose to exercise my constitutional rights.

These cards are available to citizens and noncitizens alike.

Red Cards are easily accessible and downloadable from www.irc.org/red-cards and are available in many different languages to comply with all ethnicities and races of people. 

“I always want to make sure that all my students know that they can come to me with anything and that they are safe in my classroom…[the Red Cards are] a precaution for any students so that they remember their rights.” says Ms.Cox.

The Millikan Corydon strives to provide accurate information in an appropriate manner and seeing as this topic may be sensitive to some Ram families or friends, we have not asked the opinions of any Millikan individuals for this article. 

In this unknowing time, we ask that Millikan students and faculty take the time to understand their rights as citizens of this country. As of 2/25/25, classrooms 823 And 304 have Red Cards available for any and all students to receive with no questions asked.