The school year begins in Los Angeles under the threat of immigration raids

• Students in Los Angeles are returning to school under the threat of immigration raids.
• The district is implementing measures to protect students and their families.
• Virtual enrollment has increased by 7% due to parental absences.

Los Angeles, California — Students and teachers in Los Angeles are returning to learning in the new academic year under conditions of uncertainty following the summer, marked by a series of immigration raids. This cycle of absence means that schools may become a mixed context of aggressive immigration control policies of the Trump administration.

Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District Alberto Carvalho emphasized that immigration authorities must refrain from conducting raids in schools during the hours before and after school ends. "Hungry children, children in fear, cannot learn well," Carvalho noted at a press conference.

The district is implementing a range of measures to protect students and their families, including changes in bus routes for the convenience of students. There are also plans to distribute packets with information for families, which will include information about rights, updated contacts in emergency situations, and recommendations regarding the designation of reserve spots in case of parental detentions.

The Los Angeles district is the second largest in the country, serving over 500,000 students, of whom nearly 30,000 are immigrants, and approximately a quarter of them do not have legal status.

Although immigration agents have not conducted arrests in schools, recently a 15-year-old boy was arrested near Arleta High School, but he was released after his identity was confirmed. Carvalho noted that such incidents traumatize communities and should not be repeated.

Some teachers express concerns that some students may not show up on the first day of school due to fear. Social science and English teacher Lupe Karasak-Cardenas mentioned a decrease in attendance in the spring when immigration raids began. Some families decided to stay home due to fears, opting for online learning, and virtual enrollment has increased by 7% this year.

The district has also connected with 10,000 parents and provided over 800 families with information about resources, such as transportation and legal assistance. "We want to ensure that no one is left at home due to fear," Carvalho emphasized.

Tags: USA/Politics