Homeland Security agents were denied entry to Los Angeles schools after attempting to conduct welfare checks on migrant children without proper warrants, sparking a heated dispute over authority, protocol, and the safety of vulnerable students.
At a Glance
- Federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations attempted to access two South Los Angeles elementary schools to conduct “welfare checks” on specific migrant students but were denied entry by principals.
- School officials followed district protocol requiring court orders or warrants, which the agents did not produce.
- LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho revealed that agents falsely claimed to have parental permission to speak with the children.
- Homeland Security defended their actions as focused on child safety rather than immigration enforcement.
- The incident marks the first reported attempt by federal authorities to enter an L.A. public school amid increased immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
School Officials Stand Their Ground
Federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), an arm of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, attempted to gain access to two South Los Angeles elementary schools, including Lillian Street Elementary. The plainclothes agents, who arrived in unmarked vehicles, were seeking contact with specific migrant students. School principals, adhering to district policy, denied the agents entry when they failed to present court orders or warrants authorizing their visit.
The agents reportedly showed reluctance to provide proper identification when requested by school staff. Following district protocol, school administrators promptly contacted the district’s legal department, which intervened in the situation. After being denied access, the federal agents departed the school premises in dark vehicles without gaining contact with any students. This incident has raised significant concerns about federal enforcement activities at educational institutions.
Conflicting Claims About Authorization
LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho publicly challenged the agents’ claim that they had received permission from the students’ families to conduct these visits. During a news conference addressing the incident, Carvalho revealed that the district had contacted the children’s caregivers directly, who contradicted the agents’ assertions about having granted authorization for the contact.
The Department of Homeland Security defended its actions, stating that the visits were solely for welfare checks on children who had arrived unaccompanied at the border, not for immigration enforcement purposes. In a statement, DHS asserted: “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.” However, the lack of court orders raised questions about the proper procedure for such checks.
LAUSD Reinforces Sanctuary Status
The Los Angeles Unified School District, which has designated itself as a sanctuary district, has emphasized its policy of non-cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Following the incident, precautionary messages were sent to families from other district schools, reassuring parents of the district’s commitment to protecting all students, regardless of immigration status. The district also confirmed its intention to maintain its policy of keeping campuses closed to federal agents who do not present valid judicial warrants.
“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 elementary schools. Schools are places for learning. Schools are places for understanding. Schools are places for instruction, schools are not places of fear.”
Superintendent Carvalho, who himself entered the United States without authorization at age 17, has expressed a strong moral responsibility to protect vulnerable students. Under his leadership, the district has distributed “Know Your Rights” cards to students and explicitly stated it would not assist in immigration enforcement activities. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond has publicly commended the school employees for denying unauthorized access to students.
Broader Political Context
This confrontation occurs amid increased efforts by the Trump administration to enforce immigration laws, including the rescinding of previous guidelines that prevented agents from entering sensitive locations such as schools and churches. Former acting homeland security secretary Benjamin Huffman defended this policy shift, stating: “Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest. The Trump administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense.”
“I am proud of these principals. 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,” Carvalho said.
The incident has drawn attention from lawmakers, including Pasadena Democrat Judy Chu, who criticized the DHS actions and praised LAUSD administrators. Community advocates have expressed concern that such enforcement activities might lead parents to keep children home from school out of fear, potentially disrupting their education. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement priorities and local community protection measures, particularly regarding vulnerable populations like migrant children.
