Across the country, teachers and school officials are inciting their students to stage walkouts and take to the streets in protest of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). While doubtless some kids object to the deportation of illegal alien criminals due to what they see and hear on mainstream news, social media, and at home, others are neutral or hold opposing views. The question many parents are raising is whether schools should be fomenting one-sided political activism by allowing and even encouraging their children to leave school premises in order to protest.

Most parents want their children in the classroom learning academics rather than engaging in political activism outside the classroom on behalf of causes with which they may not agree. MEA WorldWide Digital News (MEAWW) reported on Feb. 14 that parents and other family members are complaining that “using school authority and resources to push students into political activism crosses a line, raising concerns about safety, education, and parental consent.”

For example, MEAWW included a photo of high school students in Austin, TX, protesting ICE while walking along the shoulder of a major thoroughfare. Parents may rightfully be concerned for their children’s safety in such a circumstance.

On Feb. 15, Breitbart News published a compilation of videos, photos, and articles of student protests from across the country that appeared primarily on X. Breitbart prefaced the posts with this observation: “Students across America are increasingly being injured, arrested, and seen engaging in violence as teachers and school administrators continue to encourage children to walk out of class to mount marches off school grounds to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).”

The article noted that for the most part, these protests “are not spontaneous, but are instead being organized by socialist groups and teachers’ unions. And these groups are using kids to push their political agenda.”

As described in McMahon to Teachers, a recent overt example of teachers’ union involvement in anti-ICE activism is the admission of Minneapolis AFT President, Marcia Howard, that she participates in Signal chats with local politicians and activists to organize against ICE.

The Breitbart reposts were eye witness reports from observers or victims of the mayhem and violence often perpetrated by student protesters. They show bystanders being hit by rocks, bottles, shoes, and one witness was struck by a megaphone. Some individuals reported being punched. And some student protesters have themselves been injured; others have been arrested for assaulting police.

One subscriber on X emphasized that “kids walking out of class to protest ICE isn’t [from the] grassroots. It is being organized by groups like the National Education Association, one of the largest teachers’ unions in the US.” The post included the photo of an NEA EdAction flyer encouraging teachers to take action against ICE.

School choice proponent Corey DeAngelis reminded his followers on X of the NEA’s New Business Item (NBI) 63 adopted by the union at its 2025 annual convention last July. The NBI reads in part:

• NEA opposes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) kidnapping of student leaders and supports students’ right to organize against ICE raids and deportation.... NEA will use existing media platforms to organize and join actions with other unions, communities, immigrant rights, and civil rights organizations in support of defending students’ rights to protest.

The incendiary tone of NBI 63 is evident; that any “student leaders” have been “kidnapped” by ICE is unsubstantiated and obviously intended to inflame emotions among the union’s rank and file.

MEAWW further pointed out that parents in increasing numbers are turning to social media “to express frustration after learning their children were encouraged or required to participate in anti-ICE protests during school hours.” The article described an incident involving a father who confronted school officials after his child “was forced to attend a protest without parental permission.” According to this dad, the school threatened to expel his child after he posted online about the teacher-instigated protest.

In Seattle, students were permitted to walk out of school to protest ICE, but they were not allowed to participate in a parade during school hours to celebrate the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl victory. And some schools, including in red states like Florida and Texas, are telling students these protests are “required.”

So, what can concerned parents do to protect their children from school-supported and/or-initiated political activism? One solution may be to encourage state officials to penalize schools that sponsor such activities by withdrawing state funding. Texas Governor Greg Abbott voiced this option when he warned that Texas schools promoting ICE walkouts “could face funding penalties.”

Abbott reportedly chided public school superintendents, principals, and educators, reminding them that they “are responsible to ensure students remain in class unless parents explicitly approve absences.” Other governors, at least in red states, should be encouraged to issue similar warnings and be prepared to take action.

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