By Theo Meranze
Image credit: Faces of People by RiniArt.com
On April 7th homeland security agents attempted to get into two elementary schools in South LA without warrants. They claimed to be there to conduct a “wellness check” on four specific students. The officers are reported to have claimed that they had permission from the children’s parents to enter the school. This was untrue, and, according to the superintendent of LAUSD Alberto M. Carvalho is in direct conflict with the department of homeland security’s statement on the matter. The schools, following their district’s guidelines, turned them away. This was the first attempt by federal agents to enter into a Los Angeles public school since Donald Trump took office.
After the incident Carvalho, who arrived in the U.S. undocumented when he was 17, emotionally pledged his support to protect his students from the overreach of government agencies:
“I want to repeat that I would be the biggest hypocrite in the world, regardless of my position today, if today, I did not fight for those who find themselves in the same predicament I faced over 40 years ago. When I arrived in this country at the age of 17 as an undocumented immigrant, education made me unsafe.”
The state superintendent Tony Thurmon also released a statement pledging to protect California students:
We are appalled to learn about teams of Homeland Security agents disrupting two elementary schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District on Monday. They entered the front office without warrants, targeting young children who attend those schools.
Every child in this country and in our state has a legal right to attend school and to learn, regardless of their immigration status. This right is enshrined in our state constitution and has been affirmed by the Supreme Court.
Families should never be afraid to send their children to school, and our schools must not become a place where children fear these sorts of actions. I am proud of our school employees who followed local protocols and denied these officers unauthorized access to innocent children who pose no risk to our national security.
These disturbing events underscore the urgency of SB 48, which I have sponsored to prevent immigration enforcement on all California school campuses without lawful warrants. This sort of activity at schools was unheard of prior to this presidential administration, as schools and houses of worship were protected. This new administration clearly believes that schools are no longer off limits. We will not allow this to continue in California!
We must have the courage and moral fortitude to protect the most vulnerable among us and to ensure that every single child growing up in California is safe and can focus on learning and growing while at school.
Here are a few examples of local organizations taking action in response to these incidents as well:
United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) is doing incredible work. In an interview with the website Truthout, Maria Miranda, the union’s vice president, describes preparing students and teachers through informational resources, know your rights trainings, facilitating litigation, and neighborhood walks to distribute know-your-rights door hangers. Perhaps most importantly, UTLA has organized a fast-acting response network of educators and staff across L.A. schools in order to prepare for such federal aggression on school campuses.
Union Del Barrio, a community advocacy organization, has been conducting community patrols to monitor ICE activity. These patrols have included keeping watch outside of schools in east and south LA. They have information about getting involved on their website.
Individual teachers too have taken it upon themselves to prepare students and their colleagues for potential confrontations with ICE. One teacher quoted in a Boyle Heights Beat article describes role playing as a government official in order to “(teach) them how to politely acknowledge that they know their rights while asserting that they cannot answer any questions without having an adult present.”
Earlier this year, L.A. Unified reaffirmed its status as a sanctuary district and gave students know-your-rights “red cards.” Long Beach Unified has as well. They have also created a solidarity and resources page on their website which contains pertinent information and lists of advocacy groups.
It is heartening to see organizations, bureaucrats, and districts taking action. And in the case of our public officials, these declarations must continue to be bolstered by genuine action. It is up to us as a community to hold our officials accountable to their word and to organize ourselves in the face of continuous federal attacks against students. Remember, we are in this together. Hirji, Chau, & Rodriguez will continue to provide updates on this situation.
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