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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has announced investigations into three Texas school districts over their alleged involvement in student walkouts protesting ICE.
Getting into it: In a statement from his office, Paxton said the state is reviewing whether officials in Dallas ISD, North East ISD in San Antonio, and Manor ISD improperly handled student demonstrations, including whether district leaders allowed the protests to take place without taking adequate steps to maintain order or protect students. The inquiry follows accusations that school employees may have played a role in coordinating or supporting the walkouts, which were tied to a nationwide wave of demonstrations criticizing federal immigration enforcement policies.
Paxton criticized the districts in his announcement, stating, “I will not allow Texas schools to become breeding grounds for the radical Left’s open borders agenda.” He added, “Let this serve as a warning to any public school official or employee who unlawfully facilitates student participation in protests targeting our heroic law enforcement officers: my office will use every legal tool available to hold you accountable.”
As part of the probe, the attorney general’s office has requested documentation from the districts covering attendance rules, how absences were categorized, campus security measures, and internal staff communications regarding the protests. Investigators will also determine whether any state laws or education policies were violated.
This all comes as the districts have pushed back against the allegations. North East ISD said it is cooperating with state officials and stressed that employees were reminded that their responsibility was to supervise students and avoid influencing their decisions about participating in demonstrations. Manor ISD welcomed the review, noting that it would confirm its employees adhered to district guidelines and followed direction issued by the Texas Education Agency.
