Students Across Highline Participate in ICE-Related Protests

On February 2, students at Evergreen High School, Cascade Middle School, Highline High School, and Highline Big Picture took part in coordinated walkouts during the school day. Earlier, on January 24, students at Tyee High School also participated in a protest related to ICE activity.

This article includes two messages from Highline High School Principal Clint Sallee outlining how the school prepared for and responded to the February 2 walkout. The messages, sent January 30 and the afternoon of February 2, address safety expectations, attendance, staff supervision, and students’ return to campus.

Questions submitted to Highline Public Schools:

• Were these protests district supported and/or coordinated?
• What other district schools protested today?
• The protests occurred during school hours, off campus, and school staff participated by escorting students. Were staff paid with public funds while accompanying students offsite?

As of publication, Highline Public Schools had not responded to these questions.

This is a developing story.

Jan 30, 2026

Message from Highline High School Principal Clint Sallee

Hello Highline Community,

I hope this message finds you well on this no school day on the day between semesters here at HHS. The end of a term is always a busy and stressful time for students, and I know that the news coverage on ICE actions, both local and national, may have compounded the stress of students, families, and staff. Our number one priority is that all students and families, regardless of the immigration status, can feel safe while at school. We have taken heightened steps to ensure our building in secured from outside intruders and are partnering with our district to continually evaluate our safety protocols and ensure we are well prepared should a local ICE action directly threaten our school community.

Of course, I also know that fear is not the only emotion that members of our community are feeling right now. Many of our students are feeling anger for themselves and their classmates threatened by the recent escalation of ICE activity around the United States and they want to do something about it. We have learned that some students at HHS (along with students at other schools in the area) have channeled that anger to push for direct action and protest and have planned a student walkout for this coming Monday, February 2nd.

As Principal of HHS, I cannot formally condone students leaving school in protest. Yet as a former History teacher, I appreciate that our students have internalized lessons of civil rights advocacy and direct action and understand that their freedom of expression and right to protest is not relinquished “at the schoolhouse door.” I am proud of the bravery our students show in standing up for what they believe is right. I support their right to organize and protest peacefully.

I want to share guidelines for students to discuss with families before Monday as they decide whether to participate in the walkout:

• The walkout is not a school- or district-sponsored event.
• Whether or not to participate is a student’s choice. Our school is committed to ensuring all students feel safe and supported in their choices. No student should feel compelled to make a particular choice.
• Students who participate peacefully and safely will not be subject to discipline. However, absences will remain unexcused if students miss class.
• Administration will work with security and other staff to ensure students’ safety to the best of our ability during the walkout.

Thank you for taking the time to read this message. Please feel free to message me directly if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Clint Sallee
Principal
Highline High School

Feb 2, 2026

Follow-up Message from Highline High School Principal Clint Sallee

Hello Highline High School Community,

I wanted to send you an update regarding today's student walkout to peacefully protest ICE actions in our community and nationally.

At about 9:45am this morning, hundreds of our students walked out of school, travelled down 152nd to group outside of the Burien Library. From there, they continued on through downtown Burien before turning around before Ambaum avenue to return to the school. After grouping briefly in the front of the school and then on 156th, all students were back in the building by the start of lunch at 10:55am.

To help ensure safety, students were accompanied along their march route by school administrators, as well as some teacher and staff volunteers. Students did a great job respecting traffic rules throughout their march, observing walk signs and staying on sidewalks. They carried creative handmade signs and chanted all along the route, receiving many "honks" of support from Burien community members as they marched.

As I said in my Friday message, as Principal of HHS I could not condone students leaving school to take part in a protest. However, I can now say as their Principal that I am so incredibly proud of our students and how they conducted themselves today during the walkout.

I am honored to be Principal of Highline High School.

Thank you for your continued support. Please feel free to message me directly if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Clint Sallee
Principal
Highline High School