As students return to classrooms nationwide, Los Angeles is taking extra steps to protect them. Staff, police and volunteers will be stationed along school routes to prevent any interference from immigration officials.
New school year, heightened precautions
Thursday officially kicks off the 2025-26 school year for over 100 schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Ahead of the first day, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced new measures Monday that he said are designed to protect every student, regardless of immigration status.
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“As a father, as a teacher, principal, superintendent, alongside these honorable leaders in our community, I think we all agree that in our community, there are no sidewalks for immigrants and separate sidewalks for everybody else,” Carvalho said.
Carvalho said student attendance held steady in the last weeks of the previous school year, but he is worried about the opening weeks ahead, noting some families may have left the country amid heightened immigration enforcement.
Safe zones and crisis escorts
LAUSD said more than 1,000 staff members will be stationed in key safe zones on the first day of school in areas flagged due to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity. Families and students can also request emergency crisis teams to escort them to and from home.
In response to recent immigration enforcement activities, the district is strengthening ties with local law enforcement to ensure clear communication with the Los Angeles School Police as students return to class. Carvalho didn’t detail what that partnership would look like.
Incident at Arleta High School
The announcement came the same day school district officials said immigration agents mistakenly handcuffed and detained a 15-year-old with disabilities outside Arleta High School. After an exchange with his family and the school’s principal, agents released him.
“Such actions – violently detaining a child just outside a public school – are absolutely reprehensible and should have no place in our country,” said LAUSD board member Karla Griego. “I denounce these violent aggressions, the continued unconstitutional targeting of our Latino community, and call on the federal government to immediately stop harassing, abducting and tearing apart our communities.”
Carvalho urged immigration officials to halt enforcement actions near schools, so students can return safely and focus on their education without distractions.
Community leaders condemn enforcement near schools
LA Mayor Karen Bass joined Carvalho in a Monday press conference detailing the new safety measures.
“We want LA Unified to continue the success that the district has had over the last few years, and we will stand and support our education leaders to make sure that we can continue to progress,” she said.
Leading up to the coming school year, LAUSD staff have reached out to more than 10,000 families who may face immigration enforcement or who might not send their children to school out of fear.
The district said they are handing out multilingual packets with information on students’ and parents’ rights, along with details on available resources. A new compassion fund is also in place to offer families legal aid and other support.
Officials noted that more than 350 district employees could also be affected if their legal status changes.
Homeland Security immigration enforcement in LA
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says recent enforcement efforts in Los Angeles have targeted the most dangerous criminals living in the U.S. illegally. Since these operations began in early June, DHS said border apprehensions dropped nearly 50%, from 9,577 in May to 5,414 in June.
“Sanctuary cities are no longer a safe haven,” DHS said in a press release, emphasizing that they are focused on immigration enforcement. Despite protests, the department says it remains committed to making Los Angeles and the southern border more secure.
