Violent protests over federal immigration raids erupted across the L.A. region over the weekend, and as the week begins and kids go back to school, Los Angeles school officials are looking to ease parents’ concerns over ICE activity on campuses.
All schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District are expected to operate as normal on Monday and throughout the summer school period, the district said. There are just two days left in the regular school year.
LAUSD released a statement on Monday morning saying that officials are “aware of the stress, disruption and fear recent immigration activity has caused” in school communities. Attendance is said to have dropped since the raids began.
“We recognize the emotional toll this has taken on many of our students, families and staff, particularly in areas directly impacted by these events,” the statement reads.
On June 6, LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said he was “dismayed” by the recent immigration activity occurring near schools; in April, Homeland Security agents tried to enter two LAUSD elementary schools but were denied entry by school administrators who were following district protocol.
ICE agents were not involved in that incident, the district later confirmed.
“These actions are causing unnecessary fear, confusion and trauma for our students and families – many of whom are simply trying to get to and from school and work, and to live with dignity,” Carvalho said. “Our schools must remain safe havens – places where every child can learn, grow and thrive without fear of being separated from their loved ones.”
“Children deserve support, not surveillance,” he added.
A notable case involving a child deportation is that of Martir Garcia Lara, a 9-year-old elementary school student in Torrance who was detained and separated from his father after they attended a regular immigration hearing on May 29.
Martir and his father were transported to a facility in Texas the next day and were eventually ordered to be deported to Honduras.
LAUSD officials held a press conference on Monday morning that reiterated their stance on federal immigration activity on campuses across the district.
“Every student in our community and across the country has a constitutional right to a free public education of high quality without threat,” Superintendent Carvalho said at the press conference. “Every one of our students, independent of their immigration status, has a right to a free meal in our schools. Every one of our children, no questions asked, has a right to counseling, social and emotional support and mental health support in addition to a great education.”
“Our schools are safe places,” Carvalho continued. “Our schools are places of education and inspiration, not fear and intimidation.”
Carvalho also advised parents that there may be a planned student walkout; however, parents were encouraged to speak to their children and advise them against walking out, since schools, the superintendent says, will always remain safe spaces.
In the coming days, the district will continue to monitor demonstrations near schools while offering mental health services and restorative justice activities.
A hotline for LAUSD family members and staff has been set up to assist those who need it with resources, information and support: 213-443-1300. Additionally, United Teachers Los Angeles has released guidance for teachers and administrators in the event of ICE activity on school property, which includes school buses and also applies to students doing official school activities in public places, such as a field trip.
Earlier this year, LAUSD began distributing “red cards” — also known as “Know Your Rights” cards – and other resources that reminded immigrant community members and their families what their legal rights are. The cards are available to citizens and non-citizens alike in 16 languages.
The distribution of the cards was prompted by President Donald Trump’s January announcement that his administration would allow ICE and CBP officers to conduct arrests in sensitive areas, including schools and churches. That policy change reversed a 2011 ruling that prohibited arrests being made in those places.
Late last year, LAUSD, the nation’s second-largest school district after New York City Public Schools, declared itself a “sanctuary district” and safe zone for families threatened by immigration enforcement.
The opening of schools coincides with the fourth day of planned demonstrations over ICE raids that started taking place in downtown L.A. and the Westlake District on Friday. A large group of people quickly assembled and unsuccessfully tried to stop agents from detaining dozens of individuals at several businesses throughout those two neighborhoods.
On Saturday, an ICE raid in Paramount spurred protests there, in neighboring Compton and in downtown. Late that night, President Donald Trump ordered the National Guard to be deployed, a move that angered both L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom and set off a chain of political back-and-forth between the two Golden State-based leaders and the president.
And while some property was set on fire and protesters threw projectiles at authorities on Saturday, these demonstrations were nowhere near as violent as the ones that took place Sunday.
Sunday’s protests in DTLA spun out of control as the evening progressed, with businesses being looted, cars being torched, law enforcement being targeted with projectiles, and even a driver going on a dangerous rampage. A total of 42 people were arrested on various charges by the Los Angeles Police Department, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol, an LAPD official confirmed to KTLA early Monday morning.
A fourth day of protests is expected Monday.
