06:02 PM CST on Thursday, March 30, 2006

By Brad Woodard / 11 News

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Dozens of HISD students protesting proposed immigration changes were stopped in their tracks by Houston police Thursday morning.

KHOU-TV

A student is taken into custody by Houston police in a Fiesta parking lot.

Thirty-one students were arrested on curfew violations and one was arrested for interfering with traffic, according to HPD.

Those arrested ignored orders to get on buses send by HISD.

"They're all being transported to the department's juvenile division where a parent will be required to come pick them up," said HPD Lt. Robert Manzo.

Some parents were angry about the arrests.

"They should have taken them back to school... or gave them a citation instead of bringing them to a house, jail house over here," said Vanessa Trevino. "They're not criminals."

A total of 67 other students received citations for curfew violations, according to HISD.

The curfew law requires that students under 18 not be out in public between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Violating the law is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $200.

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One girl was taken to the hospital after reportedly having an asthma attack.

Until Thursday, the school district had shown a great deal of restraint in dealing with the young protesters. But they warned them Wednesday that they were about to crack down.

About 150 students from Madison and Dowling ignored those warnings and left school, according to HISD spokesman Terry Abbott.

The students were planning to march to Westbury High School.

"Then all the people from Madison, from the other school, they came over here and they were telling all the other kids from here to go over there, said Christina Nenjivar, A Dowling student. "... They started running and we were gonna run, too. Then the teachers came and they got us."

Several students ran across six lanes of traffic on South Post Oak while trying to run from police.

KHOU

Most of the students were put on buses and taken back to school.

"No one was hurt today, thank God," said HISD Superintendent Abe Saavedra. "But if this continues, unfortunately I'm afraid that some young person may be hurt seriously."

One girl was transported to the hospital after reportedly having an asthma attack while trying to flee.

The students will also face suspension from school of up to 3 days or possible removal from school, according to Abbott. He says the students will also be given unexcused absences.