LAUSD Students Stay Home Due to Deportation Fears
The superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) remarked on Monday that many students are opting to stay home, largely out of concern over potential deportation. This decision affects the second semester of the 2025-2026 academic year.
LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho noted that previous incidents in the community relating to immigration enforcement have instilled a sense of fear, substantially affecting schools. “During the first term, we witnessed throughout the community migrant attacks that had a major impact on schools and caused fear in all areas,” he explained, as reported by a local newspaper.
The district has tried to reassure parents, emphasizing that schools are sanctuaries where immigration enforcement cannot happen without a signed judicial warrant. Nonetheless, concerns persist.
Attendance, as recognized by LAUSD Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Carla Estrada, is crucial. “Being on time every day makes a big difference,” she stated. To further support families, school district employees are trained on their rights and how to respond to encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
Carvalho expressed a firm stance against the fear affecting communities. “We reject and reject the climate of fear. It has no place in our communities or on the streets of our country,” he said.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta highlighted that about 133,000 undocumented children are enrolled in K-12 public schools across the state, with many having family members who lack legal status. He noted that many educators are contemplating ways to safeguard their students amidst what he called the “indiscriminate and ruthless mass deportation campaign” attributed to the current administration.
Bonta pointed out that while California cannot obstruct federal immigration operations, the state chooses not to support what he described as “the president’s inhumane policies.” He emphasized the state’s commitment to enacting laws that enable all students to attend schools safely while standing up for immigrant communities.
Interestingly, despite the various developments, Superintendent Carvalho’s office has not provided additional comments regarding these ongoing issues.
