Education and Activism: A Look into the Impact of Immigration Policies on Houston ISD
A Day Without Immigrants
File photo: Pictured is an empty classroom.
About 23% of Houston ISD students were absent on Feb. 3, when "A Day Without Immigrants" was observed across the United States. The demonstration was a protest against President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration. Latino-owned businesses across the country shuttered their doors that Monday, and Latino parents were asked to keep their kids home from school. It also came a day after thousands rallied in West Houston to speak out against the new administration’s immigration policies.
A Sharp Decline in Attendance
Nearly 40,500 HISD students were absent Feb. 3, according to attendance data obtained by Houston Public Media through an open records request. That’s almost a quarter of the district’s total student body of nearly 176,000. It was a sharp decline in attendance compared to the district’s average rate of student absences this school year, which is about 6% — or around 10,000 students absent on most school days.
Fear and Uncertainty
Jessica Campos, who has a daughter at HISD’s Lanier Middle School and is an organizer with local activist group Community Voices for Public Education, said many HISD parents are setting aside their kids’ education. "What I’m hearing is the fear, the fear of sending their kids to school and being separated," Campos said. "School is not a priority right now. Families, especially the ones who are undocumented, are scared to send their kids to school because of the fear of deportations."
Immigration Policies and Education
The dip in student attendance Feb. 3 came two weeks after Trump was inaugurated for a second stint in the White House, having lost a re-election bid in 2020 before winning the presidential election in November 2024. He issued a flurry of executive orders after he was sworn in Jan. 20, many of which beefed up efforts to deport people who are in the U.S. without legal status. Trump, a day after he was inaugurated, also lifted a policy that kept immigration officers from "sensitive places," such as schools and churches.
Demographics of HISD
Around 62% of HISD students are Latino, according to U.S. News World & Report.
A Call to Action
"Everyone has the right to an education, an equitable education, and a school where their children feel safe," Campos said. "And they don’t feel safe right now."
Sick-Out and Protests
There was a smaller uptick in student absences on Feb. 5, when Community Voices for Public Education organized a district-wide sick-out as a protest against HISD’s state-appointed board of managers and Superintendent Mike Miles, who has implemented instructional reforms and made widespread staffing changes since being installed by the Texas Education Agency in June 2023. On that Wednesday, 8.7% of students district-wide were absent, which is more than 15,300 students.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the purpose of the "A Day Without Immigrants" protest?
A: The protest was a demonstration against President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration and deportation policies.
Q: How many students were absent on Feb. 3?
A: Nearly 40,500 HISD students were absent on Feb. 3.
Q: What is the demographic makeup of HISD students?
A: Around 62% of HISD students are Latino.
Q: What was the outcome of the sick-out protest on Feb. 5?
A: On Feb. 5, 8.7% of students district-wide were absent, which is more than 15,300 students.
Q: What is the current state of education in HISD?
A: The district is facing challenges related to immigration policies, including fear and uncertainty among parents and students.
