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<\/p>\nStudents say they felt targeted after women threatened to call ICE during a Houston high school volleyball game. HISD says it’s reviewing the incident.<\/p>\n
HOUSTON \u2014 State and local leaders are calling for action after two women were caught on camera threatening to call immigration authorities on students during a high school volleyball game in Houston.<\/p>\n
The confrontation happened last week during a game between Austin High School and Kashmere High School. A parent recorded the incident, and videos of the confrontation have since gone viral on social media, with one receiving more than 8 million views.<\/p>\n
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This story continues below.<\/p>\n
In one video, a woman can be heard yelling, “We going to call ICE on your parents.”<\/p>\n
Students who witnessed the confrontation told KHOU 11 they were caught off guard by the comments and felt uncomfortable and targeted.<\/p>\n
\nElected officials condemn comments <\/p>\n
State Rep. Cristina Morales condemned the women’s behavior, saying the comments went beyond typical exchanges between spectators at a sporting event.<\/p>\n
“It is not trash talk. That’s a threat aimed at a child,” Morales said, explaining that the comments suggested a student’s family could be taken away.<\/p>\n
State Rep. Jolanda Jones also spoke out, calling for accountability and urging members of the community to stand against racism.<\/p>\n
“The racism there has to be called out,” Jones said.<\/p>\n
Community leaders and advocates from Houston’s Black and Latino communities joined the elected officials in condemning the incident and calling for unity.<\/p>\n
Morales also urged Houston ISD to publicly address what happened and explain what steps the district plans to take.<\/p>\n
“HISD, you need to speak up,” Morales said.<\/p>\n
\nStudents say incident left them feeling unsafe <\/p>\n
Several students who were at the game spoke with KHOU 11 but did not want to appear on camera.<\/p>\n
They said the comments left them shaken and questioning whether enough was done to protect them.<\/p>\n
“It didn’t feel right seeing another Hispanic being treated like that,” student Brandon Ramirez said, referring to concerns about immigration enforcement.<\/p>\n
Another student said schools should be places where young people feel safe, not threatened.<\/p>\n
“It’s a school. You’re there to learn,” the student said, expressing concern about someone threatening to call ICE on students.<\/p>\n
Students also questioned why more adults did not intervene during the confrontation.<\/p>\n
Some said they did not see teachers or police officers step in to stop the women from making the comments.<\/p>\n
Students told KHOU 11 that the school’s principal recorded a statement addressing the incident but later deleted it. They said the situation left them feeling as though their concerns were not being heard.<\/p>\n
Some students said that even though they are in the country legally, the confrontation heightened their fears of racial profiling.<\/p>\n
\nHouston ISD responds <\/p>\n
In a statement to KHOU 11, Houston ISD confirmed it was aware of an incident involving spectators during a recent volleyball game between Austin High School and Kashmere High School.<\/p>\n
The district said administrators intervened during the event and that officials are continuing to review what happened.<\/p>\n
“HISD takes concerns about inappropriate, threatening, or intimidating behavior seriously,” the district said. “Such behavior has no place at our schools or school-sponsored events.”<\/p>\n
Despite the district’s response, students told KHOU 11 they believe more should have been done at the time of the confrontation.<\/p>\n