Dallas ISD students walk out to protest ICE

Hundreds of students marched from Booker T. Washington High School to Klyde Warren Park in a peaceful demonstration.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Hundreds of students at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas staged a walkout on Tuesday to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The students marched from their campus to Klyde Warren Park, chanting slogans and reminding each other to follow traffic laws. The protest drew support from parents and community members, as well as families from outside the district. However, the demonstration comes as Texas leaders signal stricter oversight of student protests, with the Texas Education Agency warning that students who skip class to protest could face consequences like being marked absent, which could lead to funding losses for their schools.

Why it matters

The student walkout reflects growing concerns among young people about immigration enforcement and the impact it has on their communities. The protest also highlights the tension between students' free speech rights and the potential consequences they may face from school and state authorities for exercising those rights.

The details

Hundreds of students from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas marched from their campus to Klyde Warren Park on Tuesday to protest ICE. The students chanted slogans like 'Show me what democracy looks like — this is what democracy looks like' and were reminded by their peers to follow traffic laws and use crosswalks. Parents and community members joined the rally, with some cheering on the students and others closely monitoring the demonstration to ensure their safety. The protest also drew families from outside the district, including a homeschooled student and her mother who saw it as an opportunity to teach civic engagement.

  • The student walkout took place on Tuesday, February 11, 2026.

The players

Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts

A public high school in Dallas, Texas that was the site of the student walkout protest against ICE.

Greg Abbott

The Governor of Texas, who has signaled stricter oversight of student protests, warning that free speech rights have limits in school settings.

Texas Education Agency

The state agency that issued new guidelines stating that students who skip class to protest will be marked absent, which could lead to funding losses for their schools.

Paola

A junior at Booker T. Washington High School who participated in the walkout, citing the personal impact of her cousin's detention and deportation while seeking asylum.

Charity

A homeschooling parent who attended the rally with her daughter Aadynn, seeing it as an opportunity to teach civic engagement.

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What they’re saying

“We need to follow every rule. They are looking for ways to stop us.”

— Student (wfaa.com)

“I think it's great that they're using their voice.”

— Charity, Homeschooling parent (wfaa.com)

“Why not go out and stand for what's right?”

— Aadynn, Charity's daughter (wfaa.com)

“I don't think any punishment would have stopped me from coming out here today and being part of my school doing this. It's powerful.”

— Paola, Junior at Booker T. Washington High School (wfaa.com)

“As children, we should not be scared. But we are.”

— Paola, Junior at Booker T. Washington High School (wfaa.com)

What’s next

The Texas Education Agency has issued new guidelines that could lead to funding losses for schools if students skip class to protest. The consequences for student walkouts remain a developing situation that will likely be closely monitored in the coming weeks and months.

The takeaway

This student protest highlights the growing activism and civic engagement of young people, who are using their voices to advocate for issues that impact their communities. However, the potential consequences they face from school and state authorities underscore the complex balance between students' free speech rights and the policies governing school attendance and funding.