Similar protests branded as 'walkouts' were held at high schools and universities across the country on Tuesday, including at the University of Michigan. 

Kaitlyn Andary, a digital marketing coordinator for the MSU Library, said she had heard about the protest two hours ahead of its start, but felt it was the right moment to voice her concerns.

"It’s cold, so it felt convenient to protest ICE today," Andary said. "I want immigrants to know that we care about them and that this is not the U.S. I know and not the U.S. I want."

Social relations and policy sophomore Elijah Williams said he's concerned about the adverse environmental impacts of resource-intensive data centers that have cropped up across the country — and could be coming to Michigan — under the current administration.

"I’d like to tell the administration that they need to stop letting big tech run them over," Williams said. "Because the amount of data centers that are being built, and excuses being made for all kinds of 'clean' energy, is just money for these big tech companies that are absolutely ruining the environment."

Braxton Makuda, a sophomore majoring in political theory and constitutional democracy as well as social relations and policy, who is also the vice president of the MSU College Democrats, said he's most concerned about the lack of affordability facing college students. 

Grocery costs have risen 2.4% and electricity costs have increased 6.7% since December 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average tuition cost for four-year public universities has more than doubled over the past 30 years.

Environmental studies and sustainability sophomore Kathlyn Kraut, along with her friend, entomology sophomore Amelia Hawk, criticized the increasing presence of ICE in major cities and the administration's treatment of deported individuals.

"People are being snatched off the streets with no legal due process, and deported with no information of where they're being taken," Kraut said.

"They aren’t treating human beings like human beings," Hawk added.

East Lansing resident Anne Marston, who attended the protest with members of her neighborhood group, expressed concern about the kind of future the current administration would leave for future generations.

"I've got a granddaughter that I'm very worried about," Marston said. "What are we leaving her?"

Political theory and constitutional democracy sophomore Nate Zerbonia said MSU needs to take action to protect its students. In the year since Trump took office, MSU leaders have attempted to balance advocating for their students while avoiding the ire of Trump, who has used federal research cuts, visa cancellations and restrictive executive orders to put pressure on institutions of higher education.

"I think they need to listen to the students more. Students have been out, students have been protesting, it’s getting talked about, it’s getting written about, but nothing actually is getting done about it," Zerbonia said.

Kraut, the sophomore, said she hopes the protest heightened her fellow students' awareness of these issues.

"Maybe someone will walk by and see and talk with their friends," Kraut said.  "Then five more people have it on their mind and are concerned about it."