LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is deploying its police force at this week’s graduation ceremonies to protect undocumented immigrant students and their families from potential federal raids.
LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho made the announcement Monday amid widespread U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles that have resulted in clashes between police and protesters, LA Times reports.
“We stand strongly on the right side of law,” Carvalho said. “Every student in our community, every student across the country, has a constitutional right to a free public education of high quality, without threat. Every one of our students, independently of their immigration status, has a right to a free meal in our schools. Every one of our children, no questions asked, has a right to counseling, social emotional support, mental support.”
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Security-like perimeters will be set up at each of the district’s estimated 100 graduation ceremonies scheduled for Monday and Tuesday with LAUSD police officers doubling its effort for protection. Graduation events are expected to continue through June 16.
“I have a professional, moral responsibility to protect our kids, protect our workforce, ensure the sanctity, the protection of our buildings and their extension. That means the school buses, the transportation of kids to school, and graduation ceremonies. Nothing should interfere with that, and I will put my job on the line to protect a 5-year-old, an 11-year-old, an 11th grader or a soon-to-be graduate,” he said. “Any federal agency who may want to take action during these joyous times that we call graduation, not on our watch.”
Outdoor lines to enter graduation ceremonies will also be minimized, said Carvalho, and families are allowed to remain inside school buildings as long as necessary should agents initiate a raid outside or in the neighborhood. LAUSD officials did, however, acknowledge they are not legally allowed to interfere if ICE agents arrive with a judicial warrant.
Where possible, a virtual option will also be provided for families to watch graduation ceremonies online.
“I’ve spoken with parents who’ve told me that their daughter would be the first in their family to graduate high school, and they’re not going to be there to witness it, because they have a fear of the place of graduation being targeted,” said Carvalho. “What nation are we becoming?”
Carvalho also said more campuses will be opened for summer school in order to minimize travel from school to home. More school-funded transportation will also be provided.
25% of LAUSD Immigrant Students Are Undocumented
According to United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), an LAUSD teachers’ union, LAUSD has 30,000 immigrant students, 25% of whom are undocumented. The district said attendance has dropped since the raids began.
During his remarks Monday, Carvalho said two federal vans were seen parked outside two LAUSD schools Monday. While no action has been taken, the district interprets it as “actions of intimidation,” he said. Carvalho also mentioned talks of potential student walkouts. While he said students’ rights to protest would be respected, he asked families to urge their children to stay in school for safety reasons. He also advised families to have backup plans should caregivers be taken into custody.
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So far, six or seven LAUSD families have been affected by raids and arrests, Carvalho said. In one instance, a student was detained with his father and transported from Los Angeles to Texas.
LAUSD has a 24/7 hotline that students and families can use to ask questions or request resources, including legal support. The number is 213-443-1300. UTLA has also released guidance for teachers and administrators in the event of ICE activity on school property.
