LAUSD Draws the Line: No Immigration Raids on Our Watch, District Vows

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City leaders are reaffirming their commitment to keep children in local schools safe from immigration raids.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Monday joined education leaders from LAUSD schools to highlight strategies to keep kids safe. She said neither LAPD nor school police are sharing information with federal agencies conducting immigration enforcement.

City Departments and schools have also been advised to strengthen protocols and training to prepare for federal activity.

L.A. Unified School District Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said that the district has prepared a family preparedness packet that will be distributed across the entire school district and students will be able to take it home on the first day of classes.

The packet will include know-your-rights information, the contact number for the district’s compassion fund, emergency contact updates and a way to provide information about the students in the event they have to go into the care of someone else, Carvalho said.

Carvalho also confirmed the creation of a safe passage for students, which will see the addition of more bus routes.

“We have rerouted a number of our bus routes, we have added additional bus routes to ensure that we have transportation for all. We are appealing to our community. Parents, if you are afraid of being on the street with your child, we more than likely can accommodate a specific bus route for your child,” said Carvalho.

LAUSD said it has taken a number of calls from parents asking for these accommodations.

“We want no one to stay home as a result of fears,” Carvalho said.

The school district has also increased services through virtual education. Carvalho said that there has been a 7% increase in student enrollment in virtual academies.

On the first day of school, LAUSD will be deploying over 1,000 central office and district office staff into critical areas based on incident information, targeting schools in areas that have seen a higher percentage in frequency of immigration raids.

Additionally, the district will be deploying a record number of safe passage entities and community safety deployments—over 100 on the first day of school.

“The deployment of central office staff to assist schools, to assist parents and students is going to remain in place for as long as we need it to be,” Carvalho said.

LAUSD will be accepting volunteer requests from individuals who want to serve this cause and is partnering with community-based organizations for the sake of safe passage and observation, added Carvalho.

Former Los Angeles School Police Chief Steve Zipperman will be deputized by LAUSD, Carvalho said, to lead a task force to ensure rapid communication and effective expedited course of action with local law enforcement entities to provide support for families.

After the school day is over, the school district will activate emergency crisis teams that will visit or walk with families to their homes and then provide the needed assistance, information and resources they may require.

Carvalho also spoke out against the detention of a student by immigration agents outside Arleta High School on Monday in an alleged case of mistaken identity.

“He was not an adult. He’s a 15-year-old boy with significant disabilities. This cannot happen,” Carvahlo said. “This is the exact type of incident that traumatizes our community and it cannot repeat itself.”

One hour before the start of school and one hour after school ends, areas of protection will be established outside of schools for the safety and benefit of students, according to Carvalho.

LAUSD personnel will also receive additional training before the start of the school year.