A substitute teacher in Fort Worth, Texas, has ignited controversy after publicly inviting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to raid a local high school, citing concerns over students’ English proficiency. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation and reignited debates about immigration and education in the state.
The teacher, who has not been named, made the comments on X (formerly Twitter) under the handle @Hookem232, responding to an ICE post about recent arrests. The now-deleted tweet read:
“Come to Fort Worth, TX, to Northside High School. I have many students who don’t even speak English, and they are in 10th-11th grade. They have to communicate through their iPhone translator with me. The [U.S. Department of Education] should totally overhaul our school system in Texas too.”
District Reacts Swiftly
Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) officials launched an investigation immediately after the post surfaced. School Board President Roxanne Martinez addressed concerned parents in a public statement:
“We take this matter very seriously. Our commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all students remains unwavering.”
The substitute teacher has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Interim Superintendent Karen Molinar also assured families that the district is focused on protecting students’ well-being:
“We stand with our families and are here to support them during this time.”
A History of Tensions
This is not the first time Fort Worth educators have faced scrutiny for anti-immigrant rhetoric. In 2019, Georgia Clark, an English teacher at Carter-Riverside High School, made headlines for posting tweets directly to then-President Donald Trump, urging him to remove “illegal students from Mexico.” Clark’s comments, which she claimed were intended to be private, resulted in her termination after a public outcry.
More broadly, Texas schools have grappled with challenges related to language barriers and immigration. In Fort Worth alone, two-thirds of public school students are Hispanic, and over one-third are English language learners.
Policy Changes Fuel the Debate
The incident occurs against the backdrop of heightened immigration enforcement under former President Trump, whose policies allowed ICE to operate in sensitive areas such as schools and churches. Trump recently suggested deploying 10,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, citing concerns about a “broken system.”
Critics argue that such policies create a climate of fear in immigrant communities. Javier Sanchez, a local activist and former Northside High School student, commented:
“These actions are tearing families apart and instilling fear in students who just want to learn. Schools should be sanctuaries, not battlegrounds.”
Supporters of strict immigration policies, however, see enforcement as necessary. A local resident, who asked to remain anonymous, defended the teacher’s comments:
“If we don’t address these issues, our education system will continue to deteriorate. Teachers have a right to speak up.”
What’s Next?
The FWISD has promised a thorough investigation into the substitute teacher’s actions. Meanwhile, local organizations like the Texas Immigrant Rights Alliance have called for additional protections for immigrant students and their families.
The controversy underscores the challenges Texas schools face in balancing the needs of diverse student populations while navigating a politically charged landscape.
Discussion:
- Should educators use public platforms to express controversial views about immigration?
- How can schools better support English language learners?
- What role should local governments play in shaping immigration policy?
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If you’re illegal, you’re illegal in school, church or anywhere else!
Trump needs to put that teacher in charge of the Education Dept…
How many here legally can’t speak English? If that’s a significant number, clearly we’re doing something wrong.
Otherwise, they’re here illegally and should be deported, no matter how much of a sad face they make.
That’s not anti LEGAL immigrant, it’s a very likely correlation, is all.
Illegal they need to go. Not protecting anyone by letting illegals in. Our country has been threatened with violence ever since the open border issue. Send them back
Step one-Have Congress and ask that they make American English the official language of our nation.
Step two-Either hire more federal immigration judges, or give state judges the authority to hear asylum cases. It takes far too long for those wanting to become productive American citizens to become such.