Aurora police officers approach a masked and hooded federal agent to ask what the DEA was doing at an apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado, on March 20, 2025, after the complex manager called police because she felt the federal agents were not adequately explaining their presence.
Los Angeles, California – Federal officials were turned away from two Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) elementary schools this week, marking the first reported attempt by U.S. authorities to enter a public school in the district amidst growing 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 a message sent to parents and staff by school officials. The same individuals appeared at Russell Elementary School, both schools located in South Los Angeles’ Florence-Graham neighborhood.
On Wednesday, an LAUSD spokesperson confirmed that the individuals were from the Homeland Security Investigations unit within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), not agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, district officials did not specify why the federal agents were present at the schools or release further details regarding the visit.
Following district protocols, school administrators denied the federal agents entry. The agents left the premises shortly afterward. “We want to reaffirm the District’s unwavering commitment to the well-being and education of all students,” the statement from school officials read.
A spokesperson for DHS was unavailable for comment at the time of publication. However, L.A. Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho issued a statement on Wednesday night expressing the district’s firm stance. “Our schools are places of inspiration, protection, empathy, and knowledge,” Carvalho said. “Fear and threat shall be met with courage and determination.”
In a follow-up statement, an LAUSD spokesperson confirmed that the two schools were the only ones to report the incident. The spokesperson noted that the district’s protocols were effective, adding, “It appears our protocols are working.” LAUSD’s policy prohibits immigration enforcement agents from accessing school campuses without a warrant.
Other schools within the district, while not directly impacted, took precautionary measures by notifying their communities about the potential for similar immigration enforcement activity. For example, Rockdale Elementary School’s principal, Stefani Williams, sent a message to her community alerting them of the situation.
California law requires that immigration agents are not granted access to K-12 schools without a warrant, and the state has issued guidelines to ensure school districts comply with this law. LAUSD has also mandated that its employees receive training on what documentation they can and cannot provide to immigration authorities.
Carvalho, who made statements earlier this year about maintaining school safety from immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, reaffirmed his stance. “We do not expect that any federal entity … should have access to schools to enforce immigration policy, period,” he said in January.
The LAUSD Board of Education has passed multiple resolutions declaring the district a sanctuary for immigrants, emphasizing its commitment to protecting the rights and safety of all students, regardless of their immigration status.
