border patrol after detainments

By America-Today November 26, 2025

More than 200 students at Durham School of the Arts protested Border Patrol actions

in the Triangle Thursday, describing a climate of fear among classmates that disrupts

both education and freedom.

They gathered outside along the Duke Street campus carrying signs that read “No

Human Is Illegal” or “Build Bridges Not Fear,” and writing slogans on the sidewalk in

chalk: “You belong” and “I Don’t Want ICE in my water.”

Junior and protest organizer Zane Sawin stood on a picnic table and reminded

protesters that Wake County schools had seen attendance drop roughly 11% since

federal agents arrived in Raleigh, and he said DSA had seen about 300 students

absent out of 1,800.

“Does that sound like ICE is doing their job if students are afraid?” he asked. “They

are not welcome in this community. This is a democracy and will always be a

democracy.”

Sawin said the rising fear among students inspired him and other DSA students to

organize the on-campus protest, and he described seeing a classmate rise for a drink

of water during a Wednesday biology exam.