- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Texas Governor Calls for Investigation Into Student-Led Protests Against ICE
Abbott says AISD should not allow students to skip school for protests
Jan. 30, 2026 at 9:39pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed the state's Education Commissioner to investigate student-led protests against immigration enforcement that have occurred at multiple schools across Central Texas, including several campuses in the Austin Independent School District. The protests, which involved student walkouts during school hours, have drawn a rebuke from Abbott, who argues that AISD should not be allowing students to skip class to participate in political demonstrations.
Why it matters
The student protests raise questions about the balance between students' First Amendment rights to free speech and expression, and schools' ability to maintain order and focus on educational objectives. The 1969 Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District affirmed that students do not 'shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gates,' but also allowed schools to restrict speech that substantially disrupts the educational process.
The details
Students at multiple Central Texas schools, including several Austin ISD campuses, organized walkouts during school hours on Thursday and Friday to protest immigration enforcement. AISD said the walkouts were not sponsored or endorsed by the district, but that it would not stop students from participating and had officers present to assist with security. The district also said any students who missed class or were late would be counted as absent or tardy.
- On Thursday and Friday, students at multiple Central Texas schools organized walkouts during school hours to protest immigration enforcement.
- On Friday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott directed the state's Education Commissioner to investigate the student-led protests.
The players
Greg Abbott
The Governor of Texas who has directed the state's Education Commissioner to investigate the student-led protests against immigration enforcement.
Austin Independent School District (AISD)
The school district where several campuses saw student walkouts to protest immigration enforcement, which the district said it would not stop but would count as absences.
What they’re saying
“AISD gets taxpayer dollars to teach the subjects required by the state, not to help students skip school to protest.”
— Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas (X)
“Our students are exercising their right under the First Amendment, and their parents have been notified. No absence will be excused.”
— AISD (X)
What’s next
The Texas Education Commissioner will investigate the student-led protests against immigration enforcement that occurred at multiple schools in Central Texas.
The takeaway
This case highlights the ongoing tension between students' constitutional rights to free speech and schools' need to maintain order and focus on educational objectives. The 1969 Tinker v. Des Moines ruling affirmed students' First Amendment rights, but also allowed schools to restrict speech that substantially disrupts the educational process.
