Homeland Security officials attempted to enter two Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) elementary schools this month but were denied access.
The interim U.S. Attorney for Los Angeles, Bill Essayli, discussed the visit with Eyewitness News, revealing that officers were there to conduct welfare checks on unaccompanied minors.
Essayli, who grew up in Corona and previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney, has been vocal about his commitment to enforcing federal immigration laws.
As a supporter of President Trump, Essayli has prioritized addressing California’s sanctuary state policies, claiming they provide protection to undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes.
He stated, “Our biggest impediment, honestly, is the state of California that shields and protects criminal illegal immigrants through its sanctuary state policies. Both the president and the attorney general have said that’s unacceptable and untenable, so we will be developing strategies to what I call, ‘neutralize’ those policies.”
The language of neutrality may be concerning for community members, especially considering Essayli’s plans to roll out a new program aimed at circumventing state protections in the coming months.
“We will be able to get the criminal illegal immigrants that we need from state custody, whether the state likes it or not,” he asserted.
The situation escalated when Homeland Security agents showed up at the LAUSD schools two weeks ago. Educators and community leaders, including Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, expressed alarm over the potential emotional impact on students and families.
They cited fear and uncertainty following the visit, asserting that the agents misled school staff about their purpose and claimed to have parental authorization for their presence.
Superintendent Carvalho criticized the agents for their approach and emphasized that the district adheres to state laws and guidelines regarding immigration.
Reflecting on the incident, Carvalho stated, “The problem is you have the superintendent of LAUSD going on TV and holding a press conference and pounding his chest about how he blocked ICE from going on campuses and how they’re not going to cooperate. Again, I don’t think it’s a good look.”
Essayli responded to the situation, suggesting that blocking the welfare checks could allow a dangerous environment to persist for unaccompanied minors, stating, “He’s basically making sure that we cannot conduct these welfare checks on these kids.”
The tensions surrounding this incident have prompted California Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff to take action.
In a letter to the acting director of Homeland Security investigations, they expressed their concerns, highlighting that the agents’ actions terrorized students and undermined public trust in education institutions.
They urged for a halt to similar welfare checks or school visits without proper warrants.
Though Carvalho could not be interviewed directly, his office communicated that they are working closely with Senators Padilla and Schiff to review the implications of this administration’s actions.
The situation underscores deeper community fears regarding immigration enforcement in schools and the balance between federal policies and local protections.
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