Paxton Launches Investigations Into Texas School Districts Over Student Protests

AUSTIN, TX — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched investigations into three school districts over student protests against immigration enforcement, alleging that school officials failed to ensure student safety and minimize classroom disruptions.

The move, announced Monday, targets North East Independent School District in San Antonio, Dallas Independent School District and Manor Independent School District, following a similar inquiry into the Austin Independent School District. Paxton said his office is also examining claims that administrators and faculty helped organize the demonstrations.

“I will not allow Texas schools to become breeding grounds for the radical Left’s open borders agenda,” Paxton said in a statement. “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.”

The investigations come amid a broader conservative backlash after hundreds of Texas students walked out earlier this year as part of a national movement protesting immigration enforcement in the wake of two people in Minnesota being killed while interfering with ICE operations. One struck an ICE officer with her vehicle before being shot, while another showed up to harass ICE officers while carrying a loaded gun, which apparently fired while he was being restrained, leading to him being shot by officers as well.

The protests took place in cities all over Texas, including Austin, San Antonio and Waco, with students calling for the dismantling of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

State leaders have responded forcefully. Gov. Greg Abbott said districts could lose funding and students who break the law during protests could face arrest. The Texas Education Agency has warned that districts found to have facilitated walkouts could face state intervention.

As part of the latest probe, Paxton is seeking records from the three districts on student leave policies, excused absences, security procedures, internal communications about the protests and the use of public funds. His office will also review whether any laws were violated.

The districts are among the biggest in Texas: Dallas ISD has the state’s second-largest student population, behind only Houston ISD, while North East ISD is the second-largest in the San Antonio area, after Northside ISD.