The Los Angeles Unified School District is taking unprecedented measures to protect immigrant students as the new academic year begins amid federal immigration enforcement actions. The district has deployed volunteers and staff, including school police, to safeguard children and their parents in heavily Latino neighborhoods.
LA Mayor Karen Bass called the situation “profound” in U.S. history, stating that the district will oppose any entity that seeks to interfere with the educational process of its students. School Superintendent Alberto Carvalho reiterated that the nation’s second-largest school system is standing on the right side of the Constitution and history.
In response to recent federal actions, including a confrontation outside Arleta High School where agents drew guns on a 15-year-old boy mistaken for someone else, the district has set up “safe zones” near schools. Community volunteers will serve as scouts to alert campuses of nearby enforcement actions, allowing schools to lock down and notify parents.
The district’s efforts include starting a task force to coordinate safe passage zones with local cities, setting up a donor-supported compassion fund, and providing legal referrals. School officials are also training staff to restrict the sharing of student files and working to ensure that campuses have secure facilities.
Despite these measures, many school communities remain fearful of immigration agents descending on or near campuses. Parents are being encouraged to send their children to schools, which they consider safer than other places. The district aims to provide a stable attendance for kids in its community despite the uncertainty surrounding immigration enforcement actions.
Source: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-08-13/fear-competes-with-joyous-ritual-as-new-school-year-begins-in-l-a