Hundreds of Texas Students Protest ICE Killings with School Walkouts

Students in Austin, Waco, San Antonio and elsewhere joined nationwide demonstrations condemning immigration enforcement actions.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 9:47pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Hundreds of Texas public school students walked out of classes on Friday as part of a national movement protesting immigration enforcement in the wake of the fatal shootings of two American citizens in January by federal agents in Minneapolis. Students wielded signs and flyers protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials as they walked out of schools in cities across Texas, including Austin, Waco, and San Antonio. The walkouts were coordinated as part of the 'National Shutdown' movement, with endorsements from hundreds of groups.

Why it matters

The student walkouts highlight growing concerns over the actions of federal immigration enforcement agencies, particularly after the recent killings of two American citizens by ICE and Border Patrol agents. The protests reflect broader debates around immigration policy, the role of law enforcement, and the ability of students to engage in political activism during school hours.

The details

In downtown Austin on Friday afternoon, dozens of students could be seen heading toward the state Capitol down Congress Avenue before the start of a 5:30 p.m. protest. Austin Independent School District officers were nearby monitoring the students. Gov. Greg Abbott condemned the Austin walkout and use of school officers, directing the Texas Education Commissioner to investigate the matter. The New Braunfels Independent School District said students who participated would be marked absent and disciplined. A few hundred students from the University of Texas at Austin also joined the high school students and other citizens protesting at the Capitol, with speakers calling for the dismantling of ICE.

  • On January 7, Renee Good was shot by ICE agents while attempting to drive away.
  • On January 24, Alex Pretti was tackled and fatally shot by a Border Patrol officer during a protest.

The players

Greg Abbott

The governor of Texas who condemned the Austin student walkout and directed the Texas Education Commissioner to investigate the matter.

Renee Good

A 37-year-old Minneapolis resident who was shot and killed by ICE agents on January 7 while attempting to drive away.

Alex Pretti

A 37-year-old Minneapolis resident who was tackled and fatally shot by a Border Patrol officer on January 24 while helping a civilian up off the ground during a protest.

Maya Escamilla

An Austin Community College student who participated in the Capitol rally, her first protest, after hearing concerns from her family about ICE.

Zenzi Griffin

A UT Austin professor who joined protesters at the Capitol with a sign describing ICE as 'new slave patrols' and called the Trump administration's immigration policy the most pressing issue.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“[Austin ISD] gets taxpayer dollars to teach the subjects required by the state, not to help students skip school to protest.”

— Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas (Twitter)

“After seeing just one thing after another, it's just getting worse and worse and worse. It's so out of hand. It's not even about politics, and just [about] morals at this point.”

— Maya Escamilla, Austin Community College student (Yahoo News)

“I feel like I can't just sit by, it's time to act. A couple protesters got killed, but people are dying in detention, families are being ripped apart, and this is not the first time the U.S. government has attacked people in the same way.”

— Zenzi Griffin, UT Austin professor (Yahoo News)

What’s next

The Texas Education Commissioner is expected to investigate the student walkouts in Austin in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

The student protests in Texas reflect growing concerns over the actions of federal immigration enforcement agencies and the desire of young people to take a stand on moral and political issues, even if it means risking disciplinary action from their schools.