Central High School Students Protest at Courthouse Against ICE

SAN ANGELO, TX — A large group of students from Central High School left campus Tuesday and marched downtown to protest against ICE deportations.

According to a student involved in the demonstration, the protest began in front of Newton Hall on the Central campus before lunch period. 

The students then marched downtown to the courthouse lawn, where the protest lasted about 30 minutes, according to a Tom Green County Sheriff’s Deputy, who was one of several law enforcement officers observing the scene.

There were roughly 75 to 100 students involved in the protest against ICE, also known as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“We’re out here today because we’re protesting. We want ICE out of our city, out of our town and out of our state, everywhere,” a student said. “We don’t want anybody getting taken by ICE. Police officers were grabbing me and pushing me back for not stopping, but we’re always going to pressure though no matter what. …

“We want change. We’re trying to get our word out. We’re trying to speak freely about ICE. We want ICE out.”

There have been other student protests around Texas and the country as deportations of illegal immigrants have ramped up in recent months.

Protests have intensified following ICE officers killing two individuals in Minnesota last month — both of whom were actively interfering in ICE operations.

Last week, the Texas Education Agency warned school districts that they could be taken over by the state if they help facilitate students walking out of class to attend protests following a Hays CISD teacher being shown online with protest signs that displayed profanity.

San Angelo ISD released the following statement regarding the protest:

"San Angelo ISD is aware of a student-led protest and is actively monitoring the situation. While we respect students’ rights to express their individual viewpoints, our top priorities remain student safety and maintaining a positive, uninterrupted learning environment for all.

If a student chooses to participate in a walkout during the school day, they will be counted absent in accordance with district and Texas Education Agency guidelines. Any actions or behavior that disrupt instruction or create safety concerns will be addressed appropriately in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.

Campus and district administrators will continue to monitor activities throughout the day, coordinate with district safety personnel and local law enforcement as appropriate, and provide updates to families as needed."