Hundreds of students and community members gathered at the Memorial Belltower on Friday and marched to Witherspoon Student Center to protest the recent federal immigration enforcement presence in North Carolina. A coalition of student organizations organized the event, which featured speakers and chants emphasizing education, solidarity with immigrants and community organizing.
The protest was organized in direct response to the sudden announcement and deployment of ICE and Border Patrol agents in Raleigh and surrounding areas on Tuesday. After a days-long operation in Charlotte, the agents were moved into Raleigh with no cooperation with local law enforcement. They were reportedly spotted by students in and around NC State’s campus. However, Technician has been unable to verify those claims, and NC State Police said they were unaware of any activity.
David Suarez, a fourth-year computer engineering student and president of the Gamma Sigma chapter of the Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, opened the demonstration with a speech. Suarez, a first-generation Latino college student, said he feels it is important for Latinx students to use their voices in times of need.
David Suarez, a third-year studying engineering and member of Lambda Theta Phi, speaks to the crowd during the “NC State Stands with Immigrants” Protest at the Belltower on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. This protest was hosted by various Latinx organizations in order to protest ICE. (Violet Beesley)
“We’re here to make our voices heard, to make our actions felt and to remind those in power that their authority is only as strong as we make it,” Suarez said to the crowd. “We’re not just here for one day, either. We’re here to create a lasting change.”
Many Latinx organizations were a part of the demonstration and associated with
the coalition, such as Mi Familia, Latinos Unidos en Textiles, Cultura Sin Fronteras, the Mexican American Student Association, NC State’s Folklórico Club and more.
Suarez spoke about how the community has been hurt seeing its neighbors and families in fear. The purpose of the gathering, he said, was to publicly stand in solidarity for immigrants’ dignity and humanity.
“We see the fear and the heartbreak our community is going through, and we feel it deeply,” Suarez said. “We want everyone to know that we will not stay silent while our immigrant brothers and sisters are being treated unjustly.”
Among the speakers was Fernando Martinez, organizing director for the Education Justice Alliance, a nonprofit working to promote educational justice and equity for marginalized students, including the Latinx community and immigrants.
Martinez denounced the recent treatment of immigrants as inherently criminal and said immigrants are being targeted by ICE and Border Patrol agents with violence and legal pressure.
“I’m here because I want to denounce that kind of racism and intentional targeting of our community. This is not right,” Martinez said. “I want to denounce the military style of operations that they’re performing against our communities.”
As of September, a federal Supreme Court ruling allows federal agents to use race and language as justification for immigration stops, a decision that has drawn criticism and caused increased fear among Latinx populations.
Amid reports of ICE and Border Patrol agents around Raleigh and its surrounding neighborhoods, 19,471 students were absent from Wake County schools on Tuesday. Martinez cited this as proof of a major disruption to the community, driven by anger and fear.
“If you know anything about succeeding in our education is that if we are not in the classroom, if we’re not having access to the instruction, we get behind. We must not allow that, so we have to keep organizing and protect ourselves,” Martinez said.
Martinez led the crowd in chants for student power and gave tips on how to act during encounters with law enforcement. Above all else, he emphasized organizing the community.
“The only safe and secure communities are the organized communities,” Martinez said.
Protesters raise their banners during the “NC State Stands With Immigrants Protest” at NC State on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. The protest was hosted by the Gamma Sigma Chapter of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. in collaboration with other NC State latinx organizations. (Diego Melchor)
As the speakers’ voices boomed from the base of the Memorial Belltower, the crowd grew and bystanders stopped to listen. Signs with pro-immigrant and anti-ICE messages were waved, made with shared materials.
Other speakers included Benjamin Pulgar-Guzman, a graduate student in sociology, and Iliana Santillan, the CEO of Brava, a nonprofit that organizes to empower immigrants in North Carolina.
The crowd was led by organizers down Hillsborough Street and around D.H. Hill Jr. Library. Hundreds of students participated in scattered chants such as, “No hate, no fear. Immigrants are welcome here!” They were greeted with honking car horns and a few hecklers from nearby businesses. Many workers paused and customers stepped outside of stores with smiles and cameras filming.
Beck Whitehead, a third-year studying political science and philosophy and the president of NC State College Democrats, was in attendance with his club. He said the demonstration was the product of a larger effort to form solidarity between student organizations.
“I like to see that there’s a lot of affinity here with different organizations, student and non-student, on campus, to try and grow engagement and be a community,” Whitehead said. “That’s something we’ve really been focusing on is building a coalition of like, how can we unite our student base as a progressive force?”
Whitehead said demonstrating is a vital way for citizens to use their voices, especially between election cycles.
“All we can do is use our voices, and that’s one of the best parts about a democracy rather than an authoritarian regime. It’s really good to see that we have hundreds of people here, using their First Amendment rights of protest and assembly,” Whitehead said.
As the crowd wound through the Brickyard and the Free Expression tunnel, chants in both English and Spanish continued.
Protesters march and chant with their banners in Hillsborough Street during the “NC State Stands With Immigrants Protest” on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. The protest was hosted by the Gamma Sigma Chapter of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. in collaboration with other NC State latinx organizations. (Diego Melchor)
Anatol Blass, a Raleigh resident and Israeli immigrant, took part in the march alongside his dog. He said he felt the need to join the demonstration to support his fellow Americans and community members.
“I love the crowd. I love the kids. It’s people from all walks of life,” Blass said. “I’m obviously not a student, but I saw this was in my neighborhood and I was like, I’m going to show up and support them.”
Blass said he had premonitions about ICE and Border Patrol coming to the Triangle, and had hoped the community would come together to resist oppression and protect each other. He said he was happy to see such a turnout and energy among young people.
“Honestly, I actually feel really buoyed and optimistic,” Blass said, referring to the large crowd. “People coming together, solidarity, it’s what gets you through these things.”
The demonstration concluded after students made their way down Cates Avenue to Witherspoon Student Center. David Suarez spoke to close it out, and implored students to use their privilege and education for the good of their families and the community.
“These are people who look just like me and you, people who are coming to build a better future,” Suarez said, referring to Latino immigrants in the Raleigh area. ”My family came here to give me a better future for me. What are we going to do with that future? Build it for them!”