LOS ANGELES — Campuses in the Los Angeles Unified School District open for the first day of the new school year Aug. 14 and the district will implement measures to ensure the “safe passage” of children and parents to and from school amid heightened concerns of federal immigration raids.
Hundreds of district employees, volunteers and school police, and officers from several municipalities will patrol near an estimated 100 campuses and set up so-called “safe zones” in neighborhoods that have a high population of Latinos. The patrol groups will also focus on places where older Latino students are walking to campus.
Local officials said the patrols will serve as means of enhancing communication so schools can be locked down if necessary, and parents and others in the community can be alerted via email or text about possible U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity.
Additionally, bus routes are being changed to better serve immigrant families. Parents can request special bus accommodations for transportation of their children.
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said the district is taking unprecedented measures to ensure the safety of students and families. The district also established a task force led by former School Police Chief Steven Zipperman, who will be responsible for coordinating with municipal police departments as they increase their presence near schools.
“I think we all agree that in our community, there are no sidewalks for immigrants and separate sidewalks for everybody else,” Carvalho said during a news conference Aug. 11 alongside Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other municipal, labor and community leaders. “Everybody walks the same journey to school and everybody walks back home.”
Bass described the moment as being “profound,” adding that an entire array of elected and appointed officials, and educational leaders gathered to talk about “protecting our children from the federal government.”
“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,” Bass said.
The mayor emphasized that Los Angeles Police Department officers are not involved with federal immigration enforcement. School Police Chief Aaron Pisarzewicz echoed the mayor’s message, emphasizing that the task force and officers are “not in the business of interfering with any lawful actions of another law enforcement entity.”
“However, we still know that schools are the safest place for our kids, and we want to make sure that they are safe while traveling to and from schools. They’re facing a number of different hazards on a daily basis, and our role is to make sure that they are as safe as possible. So, we will be highly visible,” Pisarzewicz said.
Other civic leaders also spoke at the news conference.
“Regardless of a family’s immigration status, Los Angeles Unified remains a steadfast safe haven where every student can learn, dream, and build their future with confidence,” school board Vice President Rocío Rivas said. “Alongside our city leaders, we will always stand to protect, support, and uplift our immigrant families.”
Her colleague, school board member Sherlett Hendy Newbill agreed.
“I stand shoulder to shoulder with my colleagues in my commitment to ensuring that our schools are warm, welcoming and safe environments,” Newbill said. “Every student is welcome in our schools and deserving of a quality public education.”
County Supervisor Holly Mitchell praised Carvalho and other officials for their approach to the new school year.
“As we approach the start of the school year amid ongoing attacks on our immigrant communities, it’s imperative that all children and their families — regardless of their immigration status — are safe and protected when traveling to and from school,” Mitchell said. “The ability to attend school without the fear of ICE agents or masked vigilantes, is not just a matter of public safety — it’s fundamental for ensuring children are not denied their right to an education.”
Leaders of other cities also spoke at the news conference.
“As mayor, my goal is for every family to understand that ensuring our children’s safety on their way to and from school is our highest priority,” Bell Mayor Ali Saleh said. “By coming together as a community, we can guarantee that every child in Bell feels secure, supported and prepared to learn.”
West Hollywood Mayor Chelsea Lee Byers added: “These actions are discriminatory, disruptive, hostile, and they serve only to instill fear in our community. We stand with our partners at LAUSD and we affirm our commitment to ensuring that students and families feel safe as they begin the new school year, so the focus remains where it belongs: on educating and empowering the next generation of leaders.”
United Teachers Los Angeles, the union representing LAUSD teachers, will be organizing “Welcome Back to School Actions” as part of the first day back. The union is encouraging residents to “adopt a school” by showing up, sharing “Know Your Rights” materials, and participating in patrols.
Earlier this week, U.S. Border Patrol agents detained a 15-year-old Arleta High School student with disabilities who was waiting in a vehicle with his grandmother.
“This young man was in handcuffs, presumably based on mistaken identity,” Carvalho said. “He was not an adult. He’s a 15-year-old boy with significant disabilities. “This cannot happen.”
Carvalho said the district’s protocols worked, as the principal of Arleta called the School Police Department and the young man was later released.
District officials emphasized that they do not allow anyone on campuses without authorization. Law enforcement personnel must have a judicial warrant signed by a judge to enter LAUSD schools.
“If they do not have that — and I can tell you the vast majority of actions in our community are not accompanied by that type of judicial warrant — that means they have no jurisdiction,” Carvalho said. “They have no power in entering our schools. We do not grant them access.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has defended its immigration enforcement operations.
The district has mailed and emailed “family preparedness packs” to households, which will also be sent home with students on the first day of school. The packets include information on rights, resources, LAUSD’s “compassion fund” and how to update emergency contacts. They have also been distributed to city partners, libraries and district employees.
For families reluctant to leave their homes due to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity, Carvalho encouraged enrollment in LAUSD’s virtual academies, which allow students to take online classes from anywhere with internet access. Parents and guardians can contact schools, principals or counselors for information on transportation and virtual programs.
On the first day of school, more than 1,000 employees will be stationed in “critical areas” identified as high priority due to ICE activity. LAUSD will partner with labor and community groups to provide volunteers who will serve as a visible presence and report ICE operations near campuses.
Emergency crisis teams also will walk with students and families or make home visits when needed.
Carvalho noted the district did not see an across the board decline in the average daily attendance of students during the final weeks of school. But he expressed concern about what the first, second and third weeks of school will look like as some parents may have self-deported as a result of rampant immigration enforcement.
“We don’t know what that will be, and that could be somewhat disruptive this school year,” Carvalho said. “We hope that through our communication efforts, our awareness efforts, information and the direct counseling with students and parents that will be able to provide stable attendance for kids in our community.”
