Central Texas students march on a day off to protest immigration enforcement operations

February 17, 2026

Students from Austin Independent School District, Hutto Independent School District and other area districts assembled on a day they were not required to attend classes, then marched together to protest immigration enforcement operations. The demonstration brought together young people from multiple campuses, continuing action that began with student walkouts earlier this month.

Organizers and participants framed the rally as part of a sustained effort that moved off campus for the day. The march followed a series of earlier protests in which students left class time to voice concerns about enforcement activities that affect their communities.

The gathering showed coordination across districts, with students from different schools joining the same route and messages. That cross-district turnout marked a shift from isolated walkouts to a combined public demonstration on a non-school day.

Participants carried signs and chanted while they marched, keeping pressure on local officials and drawing wider public attention to their cause. The continuing demonstrations reflect ongoing student engagement with immigration policy and local enforcement practices.

This latest action adds to a month of protests led by students, illustrating how school-based activism has moved into broader community spaces. The momentum from earlier on-campus walkouts helped bring students back into public view and sustain the conversation around enforcement operations.

City and district leaders may see these events as an indicator of local concern, given the involvement of multiple school systems. For now, the demonstrations remain part of a series of youth-led efforts to highlight immigration enforcement as a pressing local issue.