California Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff have given officials from the Trump administration a deadline of May 2 to respond to inquiries regarding recent actions taken by federal agents who attempted to engage with students at two Los Angeles elementary schools.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that agents were conducting ‘welfare checks’ on the students. However, Padilla and Schiff expressed concerns in a letter dated Friday, stating that these actions ‘terrorized hundreds of thousands of students across Los Angeles and undermine public trust.’
The letter specifically addressed Acting Executive Associate Director Robert Hammer of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which is part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The senators are requesting a briefing on the scope, methods, and objectives of the welfare checks, as well as the policies and protocols in place regarding interactions with children.
In their correspondence, Padilla and Schiff raised critical questions about how DHS handles such sensitive matters, including the training of officers, coordination with victim services, and whether agents contacted the children’s legal representatives prior to the in-person visits.
‘We do not understand why, if you obtained evidence that led you to believe that these children were in danger, your agency has not made a referral to the California Department of Social Services and did not coordinate with the school in advance of the
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