On February 3, approximately 23% of students in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) were absent from school. This coincided with the nationwide observance of “A Day Without Immigrants,” a protest against President Donald Trump’s strict immigration policies. Latino-owned businesses across the country closed their doors for the day, and Latino parents were encouraged to keep their children home from school. The protest followed a large rally in West Houston, where thousands gathered to oppose the new administration’s immigration measures.
According to attendance data obtained by Houston Public Media through an open records request, nearly 40,500 HISD students were absent on February 3. This represents almost a quarter of the district’s total enrollment of about 176,000 students. The absence rate was significantly higher than the district’s average daily absentee rate of 6%, which typically sees around 10,000 students missing school.
HISD officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the spike in absences on February 3.
Jessica Campos, a parent of a student at HISD’s Lanier Middle School and an organizer with the local activist group Community Voices for Public Education, explained that many parents are prioritizing safety over 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 those who are undocumented, are scared to send their kids to school because of the fear of deportations.”
The protest took place two weeks after Trump’s inauguration for a second term. After losing the 2020 election, Trump won the presidency again in November 2024. Upon taking office on January 20, he signed several executive orders aimed at increasing deportations of individuals living in the U.S. without legal status. One of these orders reversed a policy that previously prevented immigration officers from entering “sensitive places,” such as schools and churches.
Latino students make up about 62% of HISD’s student population, according to U.S. News & World Report. Campos emphasized the importance of ensuring that all children feel safe and have access to education. “Everyone has the right to an education, an equitable education, and a school where their children feel safe,” she said. “And they don’t feel safe right now.”
The high absentee rate on February 3 highlights the growing concerns among immigrant families in Houston and across the country as they navigate the challenges posed by the current administration’s immigration policies.
