LA schools block entry of Homeland Security agents amid sanctuary policies
- Two LAUSD elementary schools in South Los Angeles denied access to Homeland Security agents on Monday.
- The Department of Homeland Security agents were from the Homeland Security Investigations division.
- LAUSD's sanctuary policies aim to protect students from immigration enforcement.
In April 2025, two elementary schools in South Los Angeles, California, denied entry to officials from the Homeland Security Investigations division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The incidents occurred on a Monday at Lillian Elementary School and Russell Elementary School. School administrators turned the federal agents away after they identified themselves as representatives of a federal agency. The motivations behind the agents' visit remain unclear, and there is no evidence that they were enforcing immigration laws during this interaction. The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has implemented sanctuary policies aimed at protecting students, staff, and their families from potential immigration enforcement. These policies have been reaffirmed since the Trump administration took office and enacted strong immigration crackdowns. Following President Trump’s executive orders, LAUSD established specific protocols that include various protections, such as training for school administrators on handling situations involving immigration agents and the distribution of “Know Your Rights” cards to families. This move reflects ongoing national debates regarding sanctuary jurisdictions, places that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The LAUSD's protocols are designed to make schools safe places for all children, regardless of their immigration status. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho emphasized the importance of schools as environments of inspiration and learning, reinforcing a commitment to the well-being of every student. The federal response to sanctuary policies has been contentious, with government officials pushing back against these local regulations that aim to restrict federal immigration actions. Recently, there have been significant tensions between federal and state authorities over these policies, leading to broader discussions about the role of localities in shaping immigration enforcement strategies. This stand taken by LAUSD may symbolize larger trends in the resistance to federal immigration enforcement across various states and localities.