Students Walk Out in Texas: School Protests and State Warnings

In early February 2026, high school and middle school students across Texas organized walkouts and marches to protest the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The demonstrations have occurred in multiple regions including Houston, Dallas, Pflugerville, Austin and Hays County, where participants carried signs, chanted and moved from school grounds to nearby public areas. Many said they acted out of concern for immigrant neighbors and to draw attention to recent enforcement activity.

State officials have taken a firm stance. Governor Greg Abbott posted messages urging consequences for disruptive protests and suggested schools that permit such actions could lose funding. The Texas Education Agency has issued guidance that districts must discourage in-school disruptions; it warned that students who leave class may be marked absent, that teachers who facilitate walkouts may face investigation and that districts could be placed under state oversight by a conservator or board of managers.

School leaders have balanced discipline and safety; some sent letters to families about attendance and campus rules while others worked to keep students safe during demonstrations. Local law enforcement appeared at several rallies, and reporting shows that in one Kyle protest two juveniles were arrested on charges that authorities say were not tied to the protest itself.

Civil liberties organizations have warned that punitive measures could be challenged in court, and student organizers say they will continue to stage events while trying to stay peaceful. Parents and teachers are watching closely. These developments have sparked debates across districts about how schools should respond when young people speak out.