Thousands of Austin students walk out to protest ICE

Students from multiple high schools and middle schools marched to the Texas Capitol to voice opposition to federal immigration enforcement actions.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 5:23pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Thousands of students in the Austin, Texas area walked out of class this week to protest the presence and actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Central Texas and across the country. The student-led marches were part of a nationwide protest against ICE, with students carrying signs and chanting messages like "Education, Not Deportation." The protests came in response to several recent civilian deaths during encounters with federal immigration agents.

Why it matters

The student walkouts highlight growing concerns among young people about the impacts of aggressive immigration enforcement on their communities. The protests also reflect a broader debate around the role of federal agencies like ICE and the treatment of undocumented immigrants, especially in areas with large immigrant populations like Austin.

The details

Students from multiple high schools and some middle schools in Austin poured into the streets, with some walking miles to reach the Texas Capitol. At Crockett High School, students marched from the school to a nearby community college campus, blocking intersections and drawing honks of support from passing cars. Students at other schools like Akins High and McCallum High also organized walkouts and marches around their campuses.

  • The student protests took place on Thursday, January 30 and Friday, January 31, 2026.
  • The nationwide "shutdown" protest against ICE was organized to take place on those dates.

The players

Aiyana Meshoulam

An Austin Independent School District freshman who participated in the protests, saying high schoolers today need to make their voices heard as the future.

Adeleah Cardenas

A senior at Akins High School who helped organize the walkout at her school, saying students want to have their opinions on ICE activities heard.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We know what's wrong and what's right.”

— Aiyana Meshoulam, Student (statesman.com)

“So many people younger than me feel like they don't have a voice and can't do things like this. We are the future of this country. If we don't do this, who else will?”

— Adeleah Cardenas, Student (statesman.com)

What’s next

Organizers say the student protests are part of a broader nationwide movement against ICE, and they plan to continue demonstrating and advocating for changes to federal immigration policies.

The takeaway

The mass student walkouts in Austin reflect a growing sense of activism and political engagement among young people, who are using their voices to protest issues they care about like immigration enforcement and its impacts on their communities.