Student Walkouts Protest ICE Enforcement Across Dozens of San Antonio Schools
Walkouts were held Friday at more than 30 high schools across the San Antonio area as students left class to protest recent immigration enforcement actions and the role of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
At least 10 campuses had walkouts scheduled for Friday alone, following similar demonstrations at other schools over the past two weeks. Many of the protests were organized by students through social media posts and group messages.
On the Far Northwest Side, more than 100 students walked out of O’Connor High School Friday morning, one of the largest turnouts reported. Students at Jefferson High School also left class, holding signs that read “ICE OUT” and “ICE MELTS IN TEXAS,” chanting as they marched before returning to campus.
Mayor Nirenberg Joins Jefferson High School Protest
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg joined students at Jefferson High School during Friday’s walkout, appearing in person as students protested immigration enforcement.
In a statement shared on Instagram, Nirenberg said he was “proud to walk and stand in solidarity with our Jefferson High School and YWLA students,” adding that the protest drew attention to “the harm ICE enforcement brings to our families and communities.”
Protests Sparked by Child Detention, Supreme Court Ruling
The protests intensified this week following the detention of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos at an immigration facility in Dilley, Texas. Images of the child’s bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack circulated widely online, drawing national attention and prompting demonstrations in several Texas cities.
Students also referenced a September ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that allows immigration agents to consider race as a factor during immigration stops, a decision critics say opens the door to racial profiling.
Video shared online showed additional walkouts at Seguin High School, where students echoed similar demands. Across campuses, participants said the demonstrations were meant to show solidarity with immigrant families and opposition to current enforcement practices.
“The youth is here, united, so we can stand against the radical ideas being pushed in government right now,” said Liam, a local student who participated in a walkout.
The student-led actions followed a protest earlier this week in Dilley, where demonstrators calling for the child’s release were met by riot police using tear gas and physical force.
“I want to see families put back together. I want to see babies return home,” said Ariana, another student protester.
District Response
SAISD officials said students were encouraged to remain on campus and were offered designated spaces to peacefully protest during lunch periods or before and after school. In a statement, the district added that students who left campus could face consequences consistent with the student code of conduct and extracurricular participation rules.
The most recent demonstrations follow a walkout last week at Taft High School, where students left class during lunch to protest immigration enforcement nationwide.
