12:06 AM CST on Saturday, April 1, 2006

By BRAD WATSON / WFAA-TV

ENNIS — Mayra Hernandez and Lesly Hernandez planned to look pretty for the Ennis High School senior prom on Saturday night.

But they won't be going because they joined a protest.

"We all bought dresses, accessories, and we rented a limo and all that," Mayra said. "Now all that money is just going to waste."

Thousands of North Texas students skipped classes this week to demonstrate against the immigration bill now being considered by the U.S. Congress.

About 130 Ennis ISD students—from sixth graders to seniors—joined in Thursday, despite a school district warning that any student participating would be suspended until Monday, including the prom.

The district suspended Aracely Garcia, even though her mother excused her from school for the demonstration. "We shouldn't get suspended—and especially not from prom—just because he thinks we shouldn't protest over something we believe is right," Aracely said.

Mayra's sister-in-law, Noemi Garza, urged the school district to let the suspended students attend the prom. "They are trying to punish these kids with something that they've been looking forward to," Garza said. "These girls will never have another chance."

But as parents and school staff set up decorations for Saturday's event, the Ennis ISD held firm.

School officials declined interviews with News 8, but Superintendent Mike Harper told the Ennis Daily News, "one of the greatest gifts we give to immigrants and their families is a free public education, and it shows extraordinarily poor judgment for those who have received that gift to walk out on it."

If they can't go, the suspended seniors said they will walk in protest Saturday night outside KJT Auditorium, where the prom takes place.

E-mail bwatson@wfaa.com