Two South Los Angeles elementary schools found themselves at the center of an unusual scenario involving visits by individuals claiming to be federal agents. According to NBC Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) reported that people presenting themselves as Department of Homeland Security agents attempted to enter Lillian Street Elementary and Russell Elementary. Administrators denied them access, citing a lack of proper judicial warrants.
LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho described the situation, questioning the agents' motives as they inquired about students ranging from the first to the sixth grade, "What interest should Homeland Security have in a first-grader?" Carvalho expressed his concerns in a news conference and as noted by CBS News Los Angeles. The encounters, which occurred within two hours of each other, involved agents allegedly asking unusual questions regarding specific students, while also falsely claiming that the students' caretakers had authorized their visit.
These incidents raised alarms within the school community, especially in the context of broader immigration enforcement fears. LAUSD officials have since reassured students and families of the district's commitment to their well-being and education, as reiterated by Superintendent Carvalho's statement obtained by The Los Angeles Times. "Our schools are places of inspiration, protection, empathy, and knowledge. Fear and threat shall be met with courage and determination."
Furthermore, according to NBC Los Angeles, the district sent out precautionary messages to other schools mentioning "reports of immigration enforcement activity". School officials also stressed that they follow strict protocols, which appear to be effective, as no other schools had reported such visits. In 2024, LAUSD reiterated its sanctuary stance, aligning with state guidelines that bar immigration agents from accessing K-12 campuses without a warrant. The district has also mandated training for staff on how to respond and how to respectfully decline assistance to federal immigration authorities without proper documentation or warrants.
