Austin students protest proposed immigration reform

Students protest proposed immigration reform

Updated: March 30, 2006, 3:59 PM
By: News 8 Austin Staff

Students from several local high schools skipped school Thursday to participate in protests against pending immigration issues.

Several hundred students gathered at different parts of town and marched to the Texas Capitol.

Students from Lanier High School met at the PetsMart in North Austin knowing if they gathered at their school, they'd face a two-day suspension.


These types of protests are happening all around the country as Congress considers several immigration measures.

"We're protesting, if you all haven't seen the news, they're trying to kick all the Hispanics out of the United States. And we're trying to fight for amnesty so most of the people can get a green card," student demonstrator Lilia Anaya said.

Students from Del Valle High School also participated.

The Lanier principal says the students will receive an unexcused absence.

More than a hundred students from Stony Point High School, in the Round Rock Independent School district, also participated in a protest over immigration policies.

Student left Stony Point at 11 a.m. without a specific destination. Students left the campus without permission. They students made their way to Round Rock High School and Round Rock City Hall.

The students were followed by police and schools officials. They students were allowed to protest but they were not allowed on the RRHS campus. RRHS was locked down to prevent students from that school in joining the demonstration.

The demonstrators were offered bus transportation back to the school but most refused.