‘Not allowed to be a breeding ground for…’: Texas attorney general targets school district in investigation of immigration protests

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating three school districts after students protested U.S. immigration enforcement, alleging school officials may have failed to protect students and disrupted classes.The investigation, announced Monday, focuses on San Antonio Northeast Independent School District, Dallas Independent School District and Manor Independent School District. A similar investigation was previously conducted for the Austin Independent School District. Paxton said his office is also reviewing claims that administrators and faculty helped organize the demonstrations.“I will not allow Texas schools to become hotbeds for the radical left’s open borders agenda,” Paxton said. He added: “Let this serve as a warning to any public school official or employee who unlawfully assists students participating in protests against our heroic law enforcement officers: My office will use every legal tool at its disposal to hold you accountable.”

The investigation came after hundreds of students in Texas went on strike earlier this year to protest immigration enforcement. The demonstrations are part of a national movement that began after several people were killed by federal immigration officials, notably Renee Goode and Alex Pretty in Minneapolis. Students are calling for the disbandment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Protests took place in cities including Austin, San Antonio and Waco.National leaders also responded. Gov. Greg Abbott warned that school districts could lose funding and said students who break the law during protests could face arrest. The Texas Education Agency said districts found to have contributed to the strikes could face state intervention.Paxton’s office is requesting records from the three school districts, including student leave policies, excused absences, safety procedures, internal communications about the protests and the use of public funds. The investigation will also examine whether any laws were broken.The three districts involved are among the largest in Texas. Dallas ISD has the second-largest student population in the state, behind Houston ISD, while Northeast ISD is the second-largest in the San Antonio area, behind Northside ISD.