Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched investigations into three Texas school districts over their handling of student protests against lawful immigration enforcement activities.
According to a February 16 press release from the Office of the Attorney General, the investigations target North East Independent School District (NEISD) in San Antonio, Dallas Independent School District (DISD), and Manor Independent School District (MISD).
The attorney general’s office stated the investigations follow concerns that district administration and faculty may have facilitated student participation in protests during instructional hours and failed to keep students “safe and accountable.”
The release further stated that it “appears that these ISDs have taken little to no action to ensure the safety of students and to stop large-scale interruptions of classroom instructional time.”
“I will not allow Texas schools to become breeding grounds for the radical Left’s open borders agenda,” Paxton said in the 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 Office of the Attorney General has demanded that NEISD, DISD, and MISD provide documentation regarding policies related to allowing students to leave campus, excused absence policies, district security protocols, and internal communications concerning the protests. The office also stated it will investigate the use of public funds and determine whether any laws were violated.
The announcement follows similar action involving Austin Independent School District.
In a separate press release, Paxton said his office demanded records from Austin ISD after reports indicated district personnel were aware of, and in some cases facilitated, student walkouts protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the Texas Education Agency issued statewide enforcement guidance warning that districts must mark students who leave campus during instructional hours as unexcused absent and that educators who encourage or assist such activity may face referral to the State Board for Educator Certification.
Walkouts have also occurred in North Texas.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, students at Arlington Heights High School walked out on February 13, and photos obtained by this outlet showed one student atop a pedestrian bridge spanning Interstate 30 while others stood along frontage roads without sidewalks, raising safety concerns.
The Office of the Attorney General stated the investigation will review district policies, internal communications, and the use of taxpayer dollars to determine whether any state laws were violated.
