Texas Governor Threatens to Strip Funding from Schools After Student Anti-ICE Walkouts

Abbott responds to arrests during protests, says schools allowing 'disruptive walkouts' should be 'treated as co-conspirators'

Feb. 3, 2026 at 3:55pm

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Texas Governor Greg Abbott has threatened to strip funding from schools that allow student walkouts protesting ICE operations and immigration policies. The threat comes after hundreds of students from multiple schools in the Hays Consolidated Independent School District left campus to demonstrate, leading to the arrest of two juveniles in the nearby city of Kyle.

Why it matters

The governor's comments highlight the ongoing tensions between state officials and school districts over student activism and political expression. Abbott has taken a hardline stance against what he views as 'political indoctrination' in schools, raising concerns about the potential impact on students' ability to exercise their right to protest.

The details

The arrests during the Hays CISD student walkout were unrelated to the protest itself, with one juvenile charged with assault on a public servant, resisting arrest, and alcohol-related offenses, while the other was charged with resisting arrest and interfering with public duties. However, Abbott responded by threatening to strip funding from any schools that 'allow this behavior', calling the walkouts 'disruptive' and saying schools that permit them should be 'treated as co-conspirators'.

  • On Monday afternoon, hundreds of Hays CISD students from five different schools walked out of class and off campus to protest ICE operations.
  • During the walkout in the nearby city of Kyle, police arrested two juveniles on charges unrelated to the protest.

The players

Greg Abbott

The current Governor of Texas, who has taken a hardline stance against student activism and political expression in schools.

Hays Consolidated Independent School District

The school district where hundreds of students walked out to protest ICE operations and immigration policies.

Kyle Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that arrested two juveniles during the student walkout, though the arrests were unrelated to the protest itself.

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What they’re saying

“It's about time students like this were arrested. Harming someone is a crime — even for students. Disruptive walkouts allowed by schools lead to just this kind of chaos. Schools and staff who allow this behavior should be treated as co-conspirators and should not be immune for criminal behavior.”

— Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas (X (formerly Twitter)

What’s next

Abbott has indicated that the state is 'looking into stripping the funding of schools that abandon their duty to teach our kids the curriculum required by law', raising concerns about potential retaliation against districts that allow student activism.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing clash between state officials and school districts over the limits of student political expression, with the governor's threats to withhold funding raising questions about the ability of students to exercise their right to protest without facing potential consequences for their schools.