BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — Florida Atlantic University students are planning a campus walkout Wednesday, Feb. 25, branded “ICE Out,” with organizers calling on the university to end its 287(g) agreement and keep U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement off campus.
The walkout is scheduled for 1 p.m. on the Boca Raton campus, with students gathering on the lawn of the Kenneth R. Williams Administration Building next to the Breezeway, according to event materials circulated by organizers under the “Students Rise Up” banner.
Organizers describe “Students Rise Up” as a broader effort aimed at student disruption and non-cooperation to pressure schools and politicians to act on student priorities. The message frames the walkout as part of a larger push to defend education and build student power through coordinated protest.
In the lead-up to the demonstration, student groups held a training workshop Monday night focused on protest preparation and campus rules, including what students can expect if law enforcement is present.
The workshop, titled “Students Rise Up,” was hosted by the College Democrats at Florida Atlantic University and Solidarity at FAU, and held in the College of Education on FAU’s Boca Raton campus. Organizers said the session was designed to make protesting more accessible by walking students through constitutional protections, practical safety steps, and how to stay focused during tense moments.
According to the University Press, FAU’s student-run newspaper, the training covered First Amendment rights, protester safety, campus policies and how to interact with law enforcement.
Nicholas Ostheimer, president of the FAU College Democrats and a Boca Raton House representative, told attendees the training was meant to help students safely exercise free speech while keeping attention on the issue being demonstrated. Ostheimer distributed two cards to participants: a personal information card and a “red card” outlining constitutional protections, including the right to remain silent and the right to request an attorney if approached by ICE officers.
Ostheimer emphasized preparation, including exchanging emergency contacts before attending a demonstration, and said understanding constitutional rights matters in situations where someone could be detained.
The training opened with a presentation on First Amendment protections for FAU students, including the right to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly. Organizers stressed that students can protest policies or actions they disagree with, as long as demonstrations follow the university’s regulations.
Ostheimer also told students the walkout was communicated to campus leadership in advance. He said organizers notified FAU Police Chief Sean Brammer and the university’s public affairs office and received approval to proceed. In a separate advisory earlier this year, Florida Atlantic University Police warned about a rise in unannounced content creators coming onto campus and disrupting students and staff, including in residential areas and during normal academic operations.
During the workshop, Ostheimer reviewed campus policy issues that can affect participation, including mask restrictions. He told attendees that masks that fully conceal identity are generally prohibited, while surgical masks are allowed. Protest participants plan to provide surgical masks for students who do not feel safe showing their identity, organizers said, adding that some students have raised concerns about facial recognition.
The presentation then shifted to practical guidance on interacting with law enforcement and the media. Ostheimer encouraged volunteers to speak with reporters to help spread awareness, while also emphasizing that students are not required to give interviews.
He also urged participants to comply with lawful police instructions. Ostheimer referenced a protest last year in which he said the visible law enforcement presence felt intimidating and “scared off some protesters,” and he told students that preparation — including carrying identification and keeping the red card accessible — can help people feel safer during demonstrations.
He also addressed the risk of disruptions, telling students not to engage with agitators and to stay focused on the message.
Solidarity at FAU, a campus student activism organization founded in 2020, participated in the training and helped lead a closing section on medical response. That portion covered recognizing heat-related illness, panic attacks, and severe bleeding, when to call 911, and basic steps participants can take to assist someone until professional help arrives.
The session also included poster-making. Ostheimer’s mother, described by organizers as an artist, assisted with materials and guidance, including suggestions on color choices and readability for signs.
The training was held a few hours before the first in-person student government Senate meeting of the spring 2026 semester, during which a resolution challenging FAU’s 287(g) agreement passed, according to organizers.
Ostheimer told attendees the organizing effort is not limited to a single event, and he framed the walkout and related training as part of ongoing civic participation on campus.
For students and families on or near campus, the planned gathering location is in the central Boca Raton campus corridor by the Breezeway and administration building. Residents can expect a visible student presence around that area during the scheduled hour, and organizers have told participants to follow campus rules and lawful instructions while demonstrating.
Source: University Press "FAU students host training in preparation for ‘ICE Out’ protest"
Boca Post delivers independent Boca News covering city hall, public safety, schools, development, courts, and community issues shaping Boca Raton.
