Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened investigations into three school districts following student protests against US immigration enforcement, alleging that school officials may have failed to protect students and disrupt classrooms.
The probe was announced on Monday and focuses on North East Independent School District in San Antonio, the Dallas Independent School District and the Manor Independent School District. It follows a similar inquiry into Austin Independent School District. Paxton said his office is also reviewing claims that administrators and faculty helped organise the demonstrations.
“I will not allow Texas schools to become breeding grounds 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 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 after hundreds of students across Texas took part in walkouts earlier this year, protesting immigration enforcement. The demonstrations were part of a national movement following the deaths of several people in actions by federal immigration officersy especially Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
Students called for the dismantling of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Protests took place in cities including Austin, San Antonio and Waco.
State leaders have also responded. Governor 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 has stated that districts found to have facilitated walkouts may face state intervention.
Paxton’s office is requesting records from the three districts, including student leave policies, excused absences, security 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 state’s second-largest student population, behind Houston ISD, while North East ISD is the second-largest in the San Antonio area after Northside ISD.
