Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, announced on Monday (February 16) that he is investigating whether teachers in three school districts in the state assisted students in participating in protests against immigration and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Paxton’s office stated that the Dallas Independent School District, Manor Independent School District, and North East Independent School District in San Antonio failed to ensure students’ safety and instead facilitated the protest activities.
Paxton is currently running for U.S. Senate. In a statement, he declared, “I will not allow Texas schools to become a breeding ground for the radical left’s open borders agenda. I warn all public school officials or employees who are illegally assisting students in protesting against our brave law enforcement officers: my office will use all legal means to hold you accountable.”
Previously, the Attorney General’s office had warned schools that teachers who incite students to participate in anti-ICE protests would face punishment, including license revocation.
In a statement, the Manor Independent School District denied the allegations, stating, “The Manor Independent School District has noted the Attorney General’s announcement of an investigation into the student protest events on our campus and believes the review will show that during the protest, staff followed district procedures and guidelines from the Texas Education Agency, including maintaining neutrality, ensuring compliance with attendance standards, and prioritizing student safety.”
According to local media outlet KERA NEWS, on February 13 at noon, over 200 students from Grand Prairie ISD in northern Texas walked out of the campus to protest, claiming that ICE’s aggressive enforcement actions have impacted their community. The school has around 3,000 students, with a majority being of Latinx descent.
Additionally, as reported by The New York Post on February 11, a teacher in Los Angeles was fired for allowing students participating in anti-ICE protests to enter the school through an open gate. The teacher explained that he opened the gate after seeing a student getting hurt while attempting to climb over a fence, in order to prevent further injuries.
(This article references a report from The Hill)