Correction: In a previous version of this story, The Paisano stated that Chief McManus said that UTSAPD was required to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. McManus actually stated that SAPD was required to cooperate with ICE.
Right to Rebel SATX, a youth organization in San Antonio, organized a student walkout at the Sombrilla on Main Campus to protest against the UT San Antonio Police Department’s cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and to bring attention to ICE’s involvement in citizen deaths across the country.
ICE agents have shot and killed three people this year: Alex Pretti, Renee Good and Keith Porter Jr. Furthermore, UTSAPD assisted ICE agents in a raid on Main Campus in May 2025, which resulted in the detainment of construction workers who were working on a project before their arrest. San Antonio Police Department Chief of Police William McManus has stated that SAPD is required to cooperate with ICE when requested to assist on cases.
Students gathered at the Sombrilla at 11 a.m. on Feb. 3. Demonstrators held signs that read messages and insults in opposition to President Donald Trump and ICE. Protest leaders chanted, “Campus PD works with ICE to keep the people down,” and “No justice, no peace! Get ICE off our streets!”
“We are showing [UT San Antonio] what we can do when we agitate, when we get organized, what we can do when we go beyond what the school can and cannot tell us to do because we understand that UTSAPD and the admin that represents them collaborate with ICE,” a protest organizer, who requested to remain anonymous, stated in an interview with The Paisano.
“UT San Antonio is a Hispanic-serving institution, and this [ICE raids] has a direct impact on Hispanics especially across Texas and across the nation,” first year Mechanical Engineering major Simon Alvarez said during the protest.
He called on the university to act, saying, “if UT San Antonio wants to be a frontier for the Hispanic community, they should care about these ICE raids, and have a negative stance against them.”
The Paisano approached several UT San Antonio officials observing the demonstration; they declined to comment on record.
The walkout’s organizers led demonstrators around Main Campus, starting at the Sombrilla and heading to the John Peace Library, Student Union, McKinney Humanities and UTSAPD’s headquarters. In front of the headquarters, protesters yelled, “Fuck ICE.” Organizers emphasized to the crowd that “ [students] must fight, we must get organized.” Protest leaders then burned the American flag and stomped on the torn-up pieces.
“You are taking a stance for your own freedom and your own rights,” freshman Kinesiology major Fiona Padalino stated. “Everyone has a right to peacefully protest, especially in things they believe in.”
Leaders guided the crowd back to the Sombrilla where they encountered Beto O’Rourke and Powered By People volunteers. The organization, which O’Rourke founded and leads, sought to register UT San Antonio students to vote.
After clashing with protest leaders over whether he could speak, O’Rourke addressed the crowd of protesters.
“I am with you, in being against ICE,” O’Rourke said. “I am with you, in making sure that there is no longer ICE in this country because they cannot be trusted to execute the law, to honor the constitution, and not to participate in these abuses, this torture, this kidnapping and these killings.
“We must hold those in power accountable for their position of public trust. We must ensure that we get this country moving on the right track.”
A student who requested to remain anonymous reflected on attending the demonstration after it concluded.
“Your voice matters, your vote matters, no matter what it is,” the student said. “The fact that you are using your first amendment and using it the right way, I think that is what we should all take away from this protest.”
