ISU students, community members rally against ICE policies

NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State University students and community members gathered on campus Tuesday for an anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement rally.

Demonstrations opposing ICE have taken place nationwide, with critics alleging abuses of power by the agency and by President Donald Trump since his inauguration last year.

“We don’t always agree, but if we can find a common thread to help people, that is a great thing,” said rally participant Beverly Bell.

Bell, who has been politically active for years, said she has long opposed Trump. She recalled attending a protest in South Padre, Texas, in 2016.

“There was a group of us at the courthouse, and they tried to run us over for protesting the man who would soon go into office,” Bell said.

Several ISU students also attended the rally, including Jack Vandenbark and Jireh Herrador.

“I’m personally out here because I have seen a lot of discrimination and violence that ICE has done,” Herrador said. “I’ve seen it on social media, but I’ve also seen it in person.”

The Trump administration has faced criticism for videos and memes posted on White House social media accounts that critics say make light of deportations.

“The way ICE comes across is like they want to have control of everything,” Vandenbark said. “Having this many people show up and say, ‘No, we’re not OK with this,’ matters.”