LAUSD denies entry to alleged federal agents at 2 elementary schools

Homeland Security turned away at 2 LA schools

Homeland Security officers were turned away after showing up at two Los Angeles-area schools. The agency says the officers were checking up on immigrant children who had arrived at the border without any adults.

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho did not hold back in expressing his anger after federal agents attempted to gain access to two campuses in South Los Angeles this week.

"I would be a hypocrite if I did not fight for those who today are facing conditions that over 40 years, I've faced as an undocumented migrant to this country," he said.

Federal agents denied entry at 2 LAUSD schools

What we know:

Homeland Security activity was reported on two LAUSD campuses earlier this week — Lillian Street and Russell elementary schools — both in South LA's Florence-Firestone neighborhood.

"After being introduced to the principal, [they] identified themselves not as ICE, but as Homeland Security agents asking specific questions about four students. These students range in grades from first to sixth grade," Carvalho explained. "I am proud of our workforce. I am proud of the clerical staff in the front office, for they did exactly what we trained them to do."

Alleged federal agents target 2 LAUSD schools

A group of people who identified themselves as federal agents were denied entry at two LAUSD schools this week.

The following message was shared with the community at Lillian Street Elementary on Monday, April 7:

"We wanted to make you aware that two individuals who identified themselves as representatives of a federal agency came to the main office earlier today. After following District protocols, school administrators denied entry to the individuals, and they left.We want to reaffirm the District’s unwavering commitment to the well-being and education of all students. Please note that our website lausd.org/weareone is available 24/7 with resources regarding the District's policies and "Know Your Rights" updates."

An LA Unified spokesperson confirmed a similar message was sent to the Russell Elementary School community, while other schools in the district sent out precautionary messages, reading: "We are aware of reports of immigration enforcement activity and want to reaffirm the District’s unwavering commitment to the well-being and education of all students. Mental health support is available on campus for impacted students and employees."

LAUSD Superintendent: ‘Schools are not places of fear’

What they're saying:

"I want to repeat that I would be the biggest hypocrite in the world, regardless of my position today, if today, I did not fight for those who find themselves in the same predicament I faced over 40 years ago. When I arrived in this country at the age of 17 as an undocumented immigrant, education made me unsafe," Carvalho said during a press briefing on Thursday morning.

The LA Unified Superintendent said he was willing to put his job on the line to protect the district’s students.

Alleged federal agents denied entry at 2 LAUSD schools

Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho addressed the media after two incidents of federal agents on two school campuses.

"I'm still mystified as to how a first, second, third, fourth or sixth grader would pose any type of risk to the national security of our nation that would require Homeland Security to deploy its agents to two elementary schools. I will put my job on the line easily, as I have done on the East Coast, in protection of our students. No federal agency has the authority short of a judicial warrant," he said.

He said the students and administrations are okay, but said it’s a shame they had to experience something like this.

"Schools are places for learning. Schools are places for understanding. Schools are places for instruction. Schools are not places of fear. I spoke with both principals and their words resonate powerfully in my mind. They both described feeling fear and they both described their faculties as feeling fear, but they also demonstrated incredible courage and determination."

"We should all be deeply angered and concerned by the attempt of Homeland Security agents to access two elementary schools in Southeast Los Angeles," said Congressman Robert Garcia in a statement. "Both schools are in my congressional district and part of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Homeland Security's response

The other side:

In a statement to FOX 11 on Thursday, a DHS spokesperson confirmed that officers were at the schools on Thursday, but not for immigration enforcement, but rather to perform wellness checks on kids who arrived at the border unaccompanied.

"DHS is leading efforts to conduct welfare checks on these children to ensure that they are safe and not being exploited, abused, and sex trafficked," The DHS statement read. "Unlike the previous administration, President Trump and Secretary Noem take the responsibility to protect children seriously and will continue to work with federal law enforcement to reunite children with their families. In less than 70 days, Secretary Noem and Secretary Kennedy have already reunited nearly 5,000 unaccompanied children with a relative or safe guardian."

LAUSD doubles down on providing a safe environment for students

The backstory:

In January, shortly after President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, restrictions were lifted that prevented Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) agents from conducting raids at certain locations, including schools and churches.

PREVIOUS: ICE can raid schools, churches under new Trump administration order

In response, the LAUSD began handing out "red cards," also known as "Know Your Rights" cards, which provided students and their families with information about what to do if they were approached by an immigration officer.

LA School Police then doubled down on their duties to protect its students and to provide a safe environment for all students.

"The Los Angeles School Police Department (LASPD) will not "assist or engage in immigration compliance checks, immigration enforcement activity, or ICE-related task force operations," the statement issued by Interim Chief of Police Aaron Pisarzewicz said in part at the time.

Weeks later, fake ICE agents were accused of evoking fear in the LAUSD community.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

The Source: Information from the Los Angeles Unified School District, Superindent's Alberto M. and previous FOX 11 reports.

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