Texas Teacher Removed After Urging ICE Raid on School to Arrest Students

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Key Takeaways

A substitute teacher was removed after a controversial post urging ICE to raid Northside High School in Fort Worth, Texas.
Fort Worth ISD launched an investigation, emphasizing student safety and addressing community concerns over immigration status impacts on education.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions in education, immigration policies, and the role of teachers in diverse, multilingual communities.

A substitute teacher at Northside High School in Fort Worth, Texas 🇺🇸, has been removed from his teaching position after making a controversial online post urging Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to raid the school. The teacher, identified as Jason Buchanan, made remarks on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) suggesting that ICE should visit Northside High School because some students reportedly “don’t even speak English.” The post quickly sparked widespread concern and outrage within the Fort Worth Independent School District (ISD) community.

What Happened?

Texas Teacher Removed After Urging ICE Raid on School to Arrest Students

The incident occurred on January 23, 2025, when Buchanan used his X account, @HookEm232, to respond to an ICE post about enforcement activities. In his tweet, Buchanan wrote:

“Y’all should 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 @USEDGOV should totally overhaul our school system in Texas.”

This post drew immediate attention online and throughout the Fort Worth ISD community. By January 24, school officials were aware of the statement and quickly launched an official investigation. Jason Buchanan was removed from campus and will not be allowed to teach until the investigation concludes.

District Response

Fort Worth ISD interim superintendent Karen Molinar issued a statement underscoring the district’s commitment to protecting its students and thoroughly examining the situation. She said, “We are aware of a recent social media post referencing North Side High School which was allegedly made by a substitute teacher and has caused concern among our Fort Worth ISD community. We take this matter very seriously and are conducting a thorough investigation to understand the circumstances and ensure appropriate actions are taken.”

As a precaution, the district emphasized that Buchanan would not return to the classroom while under investigation. Officials reiterated their focus on fostering a supportive environment for every student, emphasizing that immigration status is not a factor in the district’s priorities for education and safety.

Community Reactions

The remarks by Jason Buchanan outraged many community leaders and residents. Carlos Flores, Fort Worth City Council Member for District 2, which includes Northside High School, shared his disappointment:

“This hit close to home because North Side High School is in council district two. I was shocked, you know seeing this right here and from the standpoint, I was disappointed because when you consider that there is a level of trust that is necessary between a teacher and students.”

Flores also noted that his office had been flooded with questions from concerned community members who expressed anger and frustration about the teacher’s conduct. He emphasized the importance of letting the investigation proceed responsibly and urged the public to remain patient while Fort Worth ISD addresses the matter.

Broader Immigration Concerns

The controversy has emerged amid broader discussions about immigration enforcement in the United States and Texas 🇺🇸 in particular. The situation gained even more attention due to recent changes in immigration enforcement policies. President Donald Trump’s latest directive allows ICE agents to conduct operations in “sensitive areas” such as schools and places of worship. This is a departure from previous policy guidelines, which had limited ICE activity in these locations.

Such policy changes have significantly heightened anxieties among immigrant communities. Activists and school officials alike have raised concerns that these enforcement strategies may have a chilling effect on students’ willingness to engage in their education. Fort Worth ISD has responded by reassuring families of its policies. A statement from Interim Superintendent Molinar noted that the district neither tracks nor asks about students’ immigration statuses. The district also recommended that families concerned about potential detentions should update their emergency contact information to provide trusted alternatives for child pickups.

Historical Context

This is not the first time Fort Worth ISD has dealt with troubling incidents related to immigration rhetoric. In 2019, during President Trump’s first term, the district fired English teacher Georgia Clark after a similar controversy. Clark had called on the president via Twitter to investigate what she called the district’s “blind eye” toward students without legal residency status. Although Clark initially won her appeal to the Texas Education Agency, the courts ultimately upheld Fort Worth ISD’s decision to terminate her employment.

The latest incident involving Jason Buchanan demonstrates that such challenges are far from resolved. It also highlights ongoing tensions within Texas’s education system as it serves a diverse and multilingual student body.

Impact on Students and Families

Fort Worth ISD is home to more than 70,000 students, with over 60% identifying as Latino and nearly 40% participating in bilingual or English-as-a-second-language programs. Incidents like these hit particularly hard in communities that rely on strong, supportive relationships between educators and students. Schools are often seen as safe spaces where students of all backgrounds can learn and thrive without fear of discrimination or targeted actions based on immigration status.

Concerns within Fort Worth ISD are echoed by nearby school districts, such as Arlington ISD, which issued its own statement post-incident to reassure local families. Arlington ISD spokesperson Anita Foster reiterated that her district, like Fort Worth ISD, does not collect or maintain information regarding students or parents’ immigration statuses. “Arlington ISD’s top priority is the safety, well-being, and education of every student it serves, regardless of their background, status, or circumstances,” Foster said.

Public Backlash

Public reactions have been fierce. Social media users quickly identified and shared Jason Buchanan’s personal details online, a practice known as “doxing.” Many online voices called for Buchanan’s immediate termination, arguing that his comments revealed a lack of qualifications and empathy to work in diverse community settings. One commenter summed up the outrage by saying, “This ‘educator’ should not be working for your school district LET ALONE any other school for that matter… Someone with this mindset should not be around kids.”

While responses have erupted online, legal discussions over free speech and employment rights may become a factor for Buchanan as the investigation concludes.

Looking Ahead

This incident has raised broader questions about how educators should approach their roles in communities where students come from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Teachers are placed in a position of trust, serving as guides for academic and personal growth. Moreover, school districts like Fort Worth ISD often advocate for equity in education, particularly in areas heavily impacted by immigration policies.

The case of Jason Buchanan will undoubtedly draw attention not only in Texas but nationwide, as it touches on significant intersections between immigration, education, and community trust. The investigation’s outcome will likely have implications beyond the Fort Worth ISD, influencing policy discussions as schools and districts work to navigate sensitive cultural issues.

For official guidelines on how public schools should accommodate diverse student populations, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s resource page at ed.gov.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the everyday realities faced by immigrant families and the educators who serve them. At Northside High School and beyond, the incident has sparked critical conversations about responsibility, respect, and empathy in shaping both educational policy and practice.

Texas substitute teacher under fire for ICE comments

A Fort Worth, Texas substitute teacher was removed from Northside High School after urging ICE on social media to raid the school because “many students don’t even speak English.” The incident has sparked outrage and a district investigation.

Why it matters: The case highlights tensions around immigration, the role of educators in diverse communities, and the potential chilling effect on immigrant families amid policy changes expanding ICE operations to sensitive areas like schools.

The big picture: Jason Buchanan, the substitute teacher, posted the controversial comment on X (formerly Twitter), claiming his students used phone translators to communicate. The post gained rapid attention, drawing criticism from local officials, parents, and the community.

Fort Worth ISD Interim Superintendent Karen Molinar called the remarks deeply concerning and emphasized, “We take this matter very seriously.” Buchanan has been barred from teaching pending the investigation.
City Council Member Carlos Flores, whose district includes the school, expressed “shock and disappointment,” stressing the importance of trust between educators and students.

By the numbers: Fort Worth ISD is 60% Latino, with nearly 40% of students in bilingual or ESL programs, underscoring the district’s diversity and why such remarks caused alarm.

State of play: The incident comes as President Trump’s recent policy directs ICE to conduct operations in “sensitive areas” like schools—a departure from prior restrictions and a source of anxiety for immigrant families.

Superintendent Molinar reassured families that Fort Worth ISD does not collect or act on students’ immigration statuses. Families were urged to keep emergency contact information updated in case of detentions.

What they’re saying: Social media backlash was swift, with one comment reading, “This ‘educator’… should not be around kids… This is disgraceful to the highest order.”

Yes, but: This isn’t the first such case. In 2019, another Fort Worth ISD teacher was fired for anti-immigrant tweets, showing a pattern of incidents drawing backlash in the region.

The bottom line: This controversy shines a harsh spotlight on the intersection of immigration policies and education systems in diverse communities, with Fort Worth ISD’s response likely setting a precedent for how such cases are handled moving forward.

Learn Today

ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement): A U.S. federal agency responsible for immigration enforcement and managing border security and customs regulations.
Sensitive Areas: Locations such as schools or places of worship where immigration enforcement is traditionally limited under specific policies.
Multilingual: The ability or characteristic of using or involving multiple languages, especially in education or communication contexts.
Doxing: The act of publicly revealing someone’s private information online, often to encourage harassment or threats.
Equity in Education: The principle of providing fair access to education, resources, and opportunities for all students regardless of their backgrounds.

This Article in a Nutshell

A Northside High substitute teacher’s controversial ICE raid suggestion online sparked outrage, spotlighting tensions in diverse Texas schools. Removed pending investigation, Jason Buchanan’s remarks, labeled discriminatory, ignited community backlash. This incident reaffirms educators’ responsibilities to foster trust and inclusivity, emphasizing schools as safe spaces for all students, regardless of language or immigration background.
— By VisaVerge.com