Graduation ceremonies are supposed to be simple: names called out, diplomas handed over, families cheering. At the Farmersville High School Class of 2026 ceremony in Allen, Texas, though, someone in the crowd had other ideas.
A video from the event zooms in on a man’s phone, catching him as he writes a text message to a contact named “BB.” The message reads, “Man Hispanics everywhere! Every other name is Mexican! We are being over run! ICE needs to raid this graduation!”
Then the camera pulls back, and you see the man – bald, bearded, glasses – sitting in the audience while students in purple gowns walk across the stage behind him.
The photo didn’t take long to spread online. Soon, people identified the man as Sam Day. He had just been hired as Director of Operations at Commerce ISD. When reporters from WFAA reached out to Day, he said he was talking to a lawyer.
The next day, Commerce ISD released a statement announcing they were taking back their job offer. Their superintendent, chief of police, HR, and upper administration had investigated and decided to pull the offer.
Commerce ISD’s official statement stressed how proud they are of their diverse students, staff, and families. They were quoted as saying by WFAA:
“We consider that diversity to be one of our many strengths. Our district remains committed to providing a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for every student, staff member and family we serve.”
Internet Reacts To Texas Man’s ‘ICE Needs to Raid This Graduation’ Text
The response online was largely one-sided. “Texas was part of Mexico for decades in the early 1800s – before that it had been under Spanish rule since the 1600s. The only person who needs to be deported back to where he came from is this bald white guy,” one person wrote.
Another focused on the basic absurdity of the situation: “How miserable do you gotta be to do this. They ain’t doing anything to you.”
The demographic reality of Texas got its own moment. “Dude lives in Texas and does not know that Hispanics are already the largest ethnic group in Texas at 40.5%,” one comment read. One response tried to cut through the noise with a point: “One thing I need both liberals and conservatives to understand is Latino does not equal illegal. People of Mexican descent and heritage can legally be in this country. You can’t call ICE on legal Mexicans.”
One comment went straight for the broader pattern: “Jesus, they can’t even enjoy a kid’s graduation without their hate and bigotry.” And one person’s read on the legal angle was less accurate than they may have hoped: “This guy needs to be arrested for harassment, verbal abuse and hate speech.”
Just before all this, Commerce ISD had announced Day’s hiring on Facebook, mentioning his military service and work at several North Texas school districts. His most recent job was at Caddo Mills ISD as Director of Transportation and Grounds. That district released a statement too, saying they were aware that a former employee, who had already resigned, used derogatory language in a private text message outside of work.
So far, Day hasn’t said anything publicly except that he is consulting legal counsel. No charges have been filed.
