Austin Joins Nationwide Day of Action Against ICE
Today, Austin will join cities across the United States in a coordinated day of action aimed at protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.
The “National Shutdown” calls for participants to engage in an economic blackout—no work, no school, and no shopping—to send a powerful message to federal officials.
Background: From Minneapolis to the Nation
The nationwide movement emerged from recent events in Minneapolis, where fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents sparked demonstrations and national debate over immigration enforcement and accountability. Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was killed on January 7, while Pretti, an ICU nurse, was shot on January 24 during a protest. These tragedies followed earlier deaths, including Silverio Villegas González in a Chicago suburb and Keith Porter Jr. in Los Angeles.
The response in Minnesota was immediate and substantial. Over 50,000 people marched in negative-20 degree temperature on January 23, as over 700 businesses in Minnesota closed, demonstrating the potential power of coordinated economic action.
What’s Happening in Austin
Austin’s participation in the National Shutdown reflects the city’s longstanding tension with immigration enforcement policies. A coalition of businesses, labor groups, and advocacy organizations will participate in the day of action. The North Texas Area Labor Federation is among the regional groups endorsing the effort.
Organizers are calling on Austinites to:
- Stay home from work and school
- Refrain from shopping or spending money
- Participate in peaceful demonstrations
The goal is to apply economic pressure on the federal government by disrupting normal business operations and demonstrating the collective power of workers, students, and consumers.
The Broader Movement
The National Shutdown has garnered support from a diverse coalition. Endorsements have come from 50501, CodePink, Defend Immigrant Families Campaign, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the North Carolina Poor People’s Campaign, North Texas Area Labor Federation, the LA Tenants Union, the Palestinian Youth Movement, several student groups at the University of Minnesota, and more.
High-profile supporters have also joined the cause. Celebrities including Pedro Pascal, Jamie Lee Curtis, Hannah Einbinder, and Edward Norton have used their platforms to promote the strike, with Norton stating that economic pressure needs to expand beyond Minnesota.
Looking Ahead
Today’s shutdown is part of a larger wave of activism. A second day of action is planned for tomorrow, while organizers are preparing for a third round of “No Kings” protests on March 28, which some predict could be the largest demonstration in American history.
For Austin residents considering participation, organizers emphasize the importance of peaceful, lawful action. The message is clear: economic disruption can be a powerful tool for change, and today’s shutdown aims to demonstrate that communities across the nation are united in their call for immigration enforcement accountability and reform.
Whether you choose to participate or not, today will be a significant moment in Austin’s ongoing dialogue about immigration policy, federal enforcement, and community values.
Protests continued for a third night at the Hyatt Regency Austin. Demonstrators linked the local action to the death of Minneapolis nurse Alex Pretti and widespread reports—which have sparked protests at Hyatt locations across the country—that the hotel chain is providing lodging for ICE agents.
Students from Akins High School and Del Valle High School walked out of classes Thursday in protest of ICE activities in the area.
Nurses and community members gathered outside Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin on Wednesday night for a candlelight vigil honoring Alex Pretti.
Meanwhile, Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza says he will prosecute federal law enforcement officers who violate state law.
Garza’s announced intention drew rebuke from Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the state’s largest law enforcement association.
Local prosecutors should be working with, not against, federal law enforcement to enforce the law and keep our communities safe.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 29, 2026
Cooperation — not obstruction from soft-on-crime district attorneys — is how we uphold the Constitution and ensure justice for all.
Texas DA’s…
🚨TMPA PRESS RELEASE🚨
— TMPA (@TMPALegislative) January 29, 2026
DA Garza and DA Creuzot have joined a Soros-backed coalition targeting federal law enforcement—while violent crime rises in their own counties.
Instead of focusing on repeat offenders and victims, they’re chasing headlines.
TMPA backs accountability for… pic.twitter.com/evMEBAU5hK
ICE activity was reported early /Thursday in the area of Burnet Road and 183.
The Austin Police Department is set to revise its cooperation policies with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, focusing on individuals deemed dangerous criminals.
After day laborers were allegedly taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the city of Elgin is divided regarding immigration enforcement. (KUT 90.5)
The Texas Education Agency has approved the vast majority of Austin ISD‘s turnaround plans to improve failing schools. Austin ISD Superintendent Matias Segura sent a letter to parents on Thursday night stating that the TEA approved 22 of the 24 plans.
Some Austin ISD parents are concerned after receiving notices that their child’s classroom doesn’t have heat. (FOX 7 Austin)
Round Rock ISD‘s First Offender Program gives students the opportunity to clear the felony charge from their record by taking education courses and regular check-ins with SROs. (KVUE-TV)
Hays ISD is shifting some of its school boundaries.
Liberty Hill ISD will be adding some Fridays to the school calendar to make up days missed due to icy weather. (Liberty Hill ISD)
AFD battled a blaze at an abandoned apartment complex in east Austin early this morning. It began on the second floor and spread to other areas before firefighters could get a handle on it.
Fire officials said the structure was boarded up but transient people had broken in and were using it as shelter. They said the building has a history of fires. The blaze was extinguished and no one was injured but the building was a total loss.
Thursday, firefighters fought a house fire in North Austin
In Georgetown, officials battled a structure fire Thursday.
Austin police provided new details on the city’s sixth homicide of 2026 that occurred early Monday morning.
24 years ago, Rachel Cooke went on a jog and never came home. For more than two decades, investigators have been working to figure out what happened. An update from Williamson County Sheriff’s Office investigators on the case.
A CapMetro bus driver was arrested and charged in connection with an October incident that resulted in a would-be passenger getting injured after the driver closed the doors on his arm, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. (KXAN-TV)
A new nonstop flight to the Cayman Islands is coming to Austin’s airport.
A new airline has entered the villa! For the first time starting this summer, @CaymanAirways flies out of AUS, taking you nonstop to the Cayman Islands. ☀️🌴Seasonal route runs from May 24 – August 16 and tickets go on sale soon. For flight details https://t.co/TEypTDwfwW pic.twitter.com/FeHV9mZTtT
— Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (@AustinAirport) January 29, 2026
Construction begins today on the Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative, set to extend sidewalks, add turn lanes and more to the area.
Five former employees of Round Rock-based Dell Technologies Inc. are suing the company, saying workers have lost hundreds of millions of dollars through mismanagement of its retirement plan. (Austin American-Statesman)
The video game chain GameStop is closing three area locations. (Austin CultureMap)
Insomnia Cookies has filed permits to open a new bakery at 4341 S. Congress Avenue.
Amy’s Ice Creams announced on Thursday that it will host a grand opening on February 4 for its new location at 150 Alliance Blvd, Suite 220, in Hutto.
Flood survivors from Travis and Williamson counties have another chance to apply for assistance from the Central Texas Community Foundation.
WEATHER
THURSDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
LAKE TRAVIS TIMELAPSE VIDEO
State Rep. James Talarico of Austin and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas are in a dead heat in Texas’ Senate Democratic primary, according to new public polling released Thursday, suggesting the race is up for grabs with less than three weeks until early voting begins. (KVUE-TV)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton failed to offer “any plausible proof” that Jolt Initiative, a nonprofit that aims to increase civic participation among Latinos, is violating the law, a federal judge ruled Thursday. (Texas Tribune)
Texas lawmakers continue to monitor the case of 5-year-old Liam Concejo Ramos.
At Liam’s school, three other kids have been taken by ICE.
— Congressman Greg Casar (@RepCasar) January 29, 2026
A U.S. citizen child with a brain tumor was deported away from her Texas doctors.
Austin college student Any Lopez Belloza was deported by “mistake” and still can't come home.
Trump's chaos and cruelty has to end. pic.twitter.com/miUc2Gjxyd
Today, @JoaquinCastrotx and I visited precious Liam and his father, Adrian, at the Dilley Detention Center.
— Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (@RepJasmine) January 28, 2026
My heart absolutely breaks for Liam, his family, and every person being wrongfully detained.
We assured them that we are doing everything in our power to reunite them… pic.twitter.com/sOVckYEv1i
Because Geraldo Lunas Campos died at a military base, the El Paso District Attorney says any criminal case may fall to federal prosecutors. But criminal law experts say the state doesn’t have to defer to them. (Texas Tribune)
The Texas Secretary of State just turned over every registered voter in Texas’ private voter information (like your birthdate and the last digits of your Social Security number) to the Donald Trump Department of Justice. So, what happens now? Voting rights experts Matt Cohen, a reporter with Democracy Docket delivering national coverage on this story, and Ashley Harris, a Staff Attorney with ACLU Texas joined us to break down why Trump and the DOJ have a mandate out to every US state, how Texas fits into this national push and subsequent lawsuits, plus who has your private data.
(Episode from January 29, 2026)
More than 130 lives lost. Deadly flood waters. And warnings that never came. CBS Austin, News 4 San Antonio and Fox SA teamed up for a months-long investigation into the July 2025 Texas floods and the leadership failures that may have cost lives.
Meanwhile, in Kerr County, the July 4 flood is expected to quadruple serious emotional disturbances in children and more than triple adult PTSD cases this year. (Texas Tribune)
A Bexar County judge has been indicted in San Antonio. This comes after Judge Speedlin-Gonzalez had an attorney restrained and held in a jury box in her court room. She was arrested Thursday and charged with unlawful restraint by a judicial officer, a second-degree felony, and also official oppression, a Class A misdemeanor. No court dates have been set or shared yet. (KSAT-TV)
Even as the Texas economy surges, many families are falling behind. According to Thursday’s Census Bureau report, income growth in the Lone Star State is failing to keep up with the rest of the country. With housing prices rising faster than paychecks, both renters and homeowners are more “house burdened” today—spending a significantly larger portion of their income on shelter—than they were before COVID-19. (Texas Tribune)
Texas education leaders are considering requiring the inclusion of stories from the King James Version of the Bible in public school.
Austin’s homegrown taco chain, Torchy’s Tacos, is closing several restaurants across multiple states as part of an early 2026 operational shakeup — including a restaurant here in Texas. (MySanAntonio)
SPORTS
NBA: The Houston Rockets rebounded Thursday night.
Kevin Durant scored 31 points and the Houston Rockets beat short-handed Atlanta 104-86 on Thursday night, ending the Hawks’ four-game winning streak. Houston had lost to San Antonio the night before. (NBC Sports)
Kon Knueppel made two free throws with 4.1 seconds left for a career-high 34 points and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Dallas Mavericks 123-121 on Thursday night, spoiling Duke roommate Cooper Flagg’s 49-point game. (NBC Sports)
ON THE SCHEDULE
Houston, Dallas and San Antonio are all idle tonight.
NHL: Vegas, baby!
Jason Robertson and Mikko Rantanen scored in the shootout and Dallas escaped with a 5-4 victory over the Golden Knights after the Stars blew a three-goal lead in the third period Thursday night. (NBC Sports)
ON THE SCHEDULE
Dallas is off tonight as they prepare for a trip to Utah tomorrow.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 31
ASTROS: Houston announced it acquired Kai-Wei Teng in a deal with the San Francisco Giants. Houston will send 21-year-old catching prospect Jancel Villarroel to the Giants, who spent the 2025 season with the Asheville Tourists, Houston’s High-A affiliate. (Houston Chronicle)
Welcome to H-Town, Kai-Wei! 🤘 pic.twitter.com/WgJfJHmjnz
— Houston Astros (@astros) January 30, 2026
RANGERS: The Texas Rangers have been adding depth to their rotation over the past week, starting off with the big trade to acquire Mackenzie Gore from the Washington Nationals, giving the Rangers yet another solid starter option to go along with a group that already includes Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and Jack Leiter. (Sports Illustrated via MSN)
Welcome to your new home, @Mgore181! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/QCmyfoOhQw
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) January 30, 2026
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech are on the schedule today.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL:
Texas is reportedly looking to add to its wide receiver corps. (Sports Illustrated)
The FINAL Texas Sports Unfiltered AM LIVE STREAM | 1/30/26 | Texas Football | NFL | ATX Sports Talk
The latest episode of Texas Country Reporter:
Less than a mile from the red-brick walls of the Huntsville Unit, where some of Texas’ most serious sentences are carried out, there is a place built entirely on compassion.
In Huntsville, the Hospitality House offers something rarely associated with the prison system—peace. Founded in 1986 after local churches learned that families were sleeping in their cars just to be close to incarcerated loved ones, the house provides free lodging, warm meals, and a safe place to rest for visitors traveling from across Texas and beyond.
Led by Debra McCammon, Hospitality House serves families during routine prison visits, weddings inside the walls, deaths in custody, and even executions. Here, mothers, spouses, and children are met without judgment, offered stability during moments of grief, hope, and exhaustion.
For nearly forty years, Hospitality House has quietly supported those often forgotten in the justice system—the families left behind—proving that even in the shadow of the prison walls in Huntsville, empathy still has a h
