Prior to Thursday’s Day Without Immigrants protest, Simon Middle School principal Jose Puga tried his best to maintain a “business as usual” mentality with his staff.

He understood recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Travis County caused anxiety among parents who may not be legal citizens. He tried to reassure them their students were safe at school.

What he tried to prepare for versus what actually transpired was unexpected.

Roughly 57 percent of the Si...