Federal officials arrived and were denied entry in two L..A. This week, the Unified Elementary School confirmed Wednesday, the first case reported by U.S. officials attempting to enroll in Los Angeles Public Schools amid concerns over immigration enforcement.
On Monday, two individuals arrived at the main office of Lillian Street Elementary School and identified themselves as “representatives of a federal agency,” according to officials in the message sent to parents and others. Individuals also appeared at Russell Elementary School. Both schools are located in the Florence Graham district of South Los Angeles.
On Wednesday, a LAUSD spokesman confirmed that individuals are not immigrant or customs enforcement agents, but are from the Homeland Security Investigation Division within the Department of Homeland Security. District officials did not release additional details regarding the visit as to why the individual was there.
“After following district protocols, school administrators refused to enter individuals and they left,” school officials said in a statement to both school communities. “We want to reaffirm the district’s unwavering commitment to happiness and education for all students.”
A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security could not be immediately contacted for comment.
LA Schools Supt on Wednesday night. Alberto Carvalho has issued a brief statement about the incident.
“Our school is a place of inspiration, protection, empathy and knowledge,” Carvalho said. “Fear and threat are fulfilled with courage and determination.”
“These are the only schools that have reported their activities. Our protocols appear to be working,” a LAUSD spokesperson said in an email to the Times, adding that district policies require school campuses to be banned from immigration.
A LAUSD spokesman said other schools had sent “preventive messages” to school communities that referenced “reports of immigration enforcement activities.”
Rockdale Elementary School Principal Stefani Williams sent a message to the Eagle Rock School community saying, “Lausd let us know that we know reports of immigration enforcement activities.”
Immigration agents are not required to be granted access to the K-12 campus without a warrant. The state is preparing guidance to help school districts comply with state laws and state laws that restrict local participation in immigration enforcement activities.
The district requires employees to receive training in support or documents that they cannot or should not provide to federal immigration authorities.
Carvalho said he is preparing for immigration enforcement under the Trump administration and hopes in January that he will be able to leave campus altogether.
“What are the need to implement all sorts of legal procedures on campus that we couldn’t do outside of school? I don’t think it’s necessary or appropriate,” he said in January. “We don’t think federal agencies have access to schools to implement immigration policies.”
The LA Board of Education has passed a series of resolutions stating LA Unified will become a sanctuary for immigrants.
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