The El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) has submitted records to the Texas Comptroller’s Office detailing the enrollment of students using Social Security numbers compared to those utilizing state-approved alternative identification numbers. This has raised significant concerns about the potential targeting of undocumented students.
EPISD Board President Leah Hanany confirmed that the district complied with the comptroller’s request for records, but emphasized that these documents cannot accurately ascertain a student’s citizenship status. An alternative identification number is assigned when a family does not provide a Social Security number, allowing any child to enroll regardless of their documentation status. “I think they’re trying to ascertain which children have Social Security numbers and which don’t. But it’s impossible to ascertain that,” Hanany remarked.
The request for data came from Comptroller Don Huffines’ office, which instructed the district not to share identifying information about students. This was disclosed in a press release by El Paso state Representative Vince Perez.
EPISD is among four school districts under scrutiny following Governor Greg Abbott’s call for a state financial investigation aimed at ensuring that funds are predominantly allocated to classroom activities rather than administrative expenses.
Huffines did not reply to inquiries regarding the issue. Perez criticized the Comptroller’s Office for collecting documents unrelated to the financial assessment of EPISD. “A Social Security number isn’t required to go to school in Texas, and an alternative ID number tells you nothing about a child’s immigration status,” Perez stated. “So what does a review of central office spending have to do with a count of El Paso children who enrolled without using one?”
Additionally, Huffines requested various documents, including budgets, payroll records, contracts, an electronic copy of the district’s school library catalog, and board policies regarding parental complaints about human sexuality curriculum.
EPISD officials have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the records submitted to the comptroller, but they plan to provide more information during a Friday morning news conference. Hanany chose not to elaborate further on the matter.
During a Thursday news conference, Perez announced that he had submitted a legislative records request for details about the Comptroller’s review and the specific records provided to Huffines. He was joined by representatives from the League of United Latin American Citizens and the Save Our Schools Coalition, a grassroots group that protested against the closure of several EPISD schools in 2025.
When asked about the rationale behind potentially targeting undocumented students, Perez referenced a 2025 interview in which Huffines suggested that these students should “go home.” He expressed concern that comments made by Huffines indicate a clear intent to focus on non-citizens attending Texas schools, noting a previous failed bill that would have mandated the state to verify the costs associated with educating students who are not lawfully present in the U.S.
In 2023, Huffines led an initiative recommending that the state require proof of citizenship status for both students and their parents. This history, according to Perez, raises alarms about the motivations behind the current investigation.
Under the 1983 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Plyler v. Doe, children cannot be denied access to public education based on their immigration status.
Huffines stated that the investigations aim to ensure that district spending aligns with state law and supports students, classrooms, and teachers rather than contributing to administrative overhead.
This week, the Comptroller’s Office conducted a visit to EPISD without notifying lawmakers of their plans, arriving on Monday and departing by noon Thursday.
Desiree Serna from Texas LULAC emphasized that neither Perez nor the associated organizations intend to obstruct legitimate financial oversight. “We are here to demand that it be conducted lawfully, transparently, and without compromising the rights of children and families,” Serna asserted.
Perez’s request follows a letter he sent to Huffines on October 12, which included a 14-day deadline for responses and contested claims of financial mismanagement at EPISD. He also questioned why EPISD was chosen for the review over districts with higher administrative costs but has yet to receive a reply from Huffines.
Perez serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, which oversees the Comptroller of Public Accounts, and is also campaigning for reelection to Texas House District 77 in the upcoming November 3 general election.
