Texas
A high-level overview of immigration enforcement activity, school protection policies, and resources for families and educators in Texas.
Overview
State context
Texas presents one of the most challenging environments for school immigration protections in the country. SB 4 (2017) bans sanctuary cities and requires law enforcement to cooperate with immigration detainers. The law has survived legal challenges. Despite this, some major districts — Houston ISD, Austin ISD, Dallas ISD — have tried to maintain protective practices. ICE enforcement activity is among the highest in the nation, with over 60 field offices and suboffices across the state.
ICE activity
Texas has the highest volume of ICE enforcement activity of any state. Operations occur across the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, and interior communities. Border Patrol interior checkpoints operate on major highways. The scale of enforcement is without parallel.
School policies
Austin ISD and Houston ISD have adopted policies limiting staff inquiry into student immigration status and directing staff to contact legal counsel in response to enforcement requests. However, SB 4's requirements complicate formal non-cooperation policies. Dallas ISD has issued guidance. The tension between state law and district-level protective policies is unresolved.
Notes for advocates
Texas educates more undocumented students than any other state. The Plyler v. Doe (1982) Supreme Court case, which established the right to public education for undocumented children, arose from Texas. Despite this foundational legal protection, the absence of formal school protection policies leaves students vulnerable to enforcement that affects their families and communities. Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio have some of the largest immigrant school populations in the country.
Is your district protected?
Find out whether your school district has a warrant-based policy in place, and what you can do if it doesn't.