SAN ANTONIO, Texas

The investigation into the anti-ICE student walkout is gaining momentum as of Monday, with three more Texas school districts being scrutinized. This expanded inquiry seeks to determine if there was any collaboration or encouragement from authorities for students to take part in protests on January 30.

Earlier in January, three school districts found themselves part of an ongoing investigation led by the Texas Attorney General’s Office, focused on the promotion of protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The inquiry now encompasses numerous schools in Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio.

This investigation, which has been underway since the start of the month, aims to uncover whether school officials either organized or aided student participation in the nationwide shutdown movement protests. There are allegations that some school administrators were informed about the planned walkout and even facilitated students’ exit from school grounds.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton shared news on Monday regarding the extension of the investigation to include the Northeast Independent School District in San Antonio, the Dallas Independent School District, and the Manor Independent School District close to Austin.

In addressing the addition of these districts, the Attorney General mentioned, “I will not allow Texas schools to become breeding grounds for the radical left’s open borders agenda. Let this serve as a warning to public school officials and employees who illegally encourage student participation in protests targeting heroic law enforcement officers. My office will use every legal means available to hold you accountable.”

On January 30, the Attorney General instructed these three school districts to provide details about their policies on student expulsions, their policies on excused absences, security measures, and any internal communications related to the protests. The investigation will also delve into the use of public funds and any potential legal violations.

Reports indicate that hundreds of students took part in the “national shutdown” protest at Travis Park in San Antonio. High schoolers who left classes to join the demonstration listened to various speakers who criticized ICE for family separations. Some speakers made strong analogies, equating the detention of undocumented immigrants to acts of kidnapping, claiming that the Trump administration is unlawfully holding people in inhumane conditions.

While the speakers largely focused on immigration enforcement, one speaker diverged from the topic to attack the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), accusing the U.S. military-industrial complex of complicity in violence in Gaza.

Speakers energized the audience by recounting the stories of Rene Good and Alex Preti, labeling their deaths as murders, and leading a march through downtown, near the historic Alamo.

Protesters wielded signs with harsh statements against ICE and the Border Patrol, as well as messages criticizing President Trump. One placard notably read, “End ICE Violence, 86-47,” which highlighted a call to stop the violence linked to the current U.S. administration.

Protests similarly took place in various cities across the U.S. that day, coordinated by organizations including the Socialist Liberation Party, the Democratic Socialists of America, Indivisible, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and others.