With about 100 school graduation ceremonies taking place Monday and Tuesday, Los Angeles Unified officials are ramping up security in response to recent immigration enforcement operations and rising fears among students and families.
“What nation are we becoming?” Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said Monday. “Who in their right mind would accept that reality? So I want to be reassuring to our community. Every single graduation site is a protected site.”
Carvalho made the remarks at a Monday morning press conference at LAUSD headquarters, where he was flanked by Board of Education members and LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis.
The district, Carvalho said, has instructed its police force to “redouble their efforts” and establish safety perimeters around graduation sites and intervene if federal agents attempt enforcement during ceremonies.
Earlier this morning, two unmarked federal vans were seen parked about a block away from two LAUSD schools Monday morning. In response, the district deployed its police to the area. Though “no action was taken,” he hopes the move sends “a clear message of protection around the school.”
Since April, the district has documented six or seven similar encounters—including one where federal agents allegedly tried to enter two elementary schools in South LA.
“We have detected, every once in a while, the presence of unmarked cars, or government vehicles,” he said. “Once approached, the vast majority of those entities left.”
He added that district staff are trained not to allow any agents onto campus without a judicial warrant and that roving patrols will be stepped up districtwide to detect any enforcement activity.
He also said that the district is intensifying its patrols, to have “roving patrols throughout the entire district” to make sure any immigration actions are detected right away.
Carvalho said the district is aware of at least six or seven students whose families have been impacted immigration raids. In one case, a student was detained along with his father and transported to Texas.
“We recognize that fear and intimidation are tools currently being exercised and used in our community,” Carvalho said. “I want to, however, say, we remain unwavering in our commitment that our schools are safe, welcoming sites for all, where every single right is protected.”
The heightened concern comes after a weekend of violent clashes between protesters and law enforcement officers triggered by immigration enforcement operations in the area that began last Friday. President Donald Trump called up 2,000 National Guard troops to the city, and on Monday afternoon, U.S. Marines were preparing for possible deployment from Southern California bases.
While community anxiety has spiked, Carvalho pushed back on reports of ICE officials picking up parents at graduation ceremonies. He also specifically addressed reports of immigration enforcement activity at Gratts Learning Academy on June 5. “All of the reports that came back was that no such event happened”
To better protect families, Carvalho said the district has updated graduation protocols. Parents and staff will be allowed to enter venues as soon as they arrive to reduce time spent waiting on public streets. Principals have been instructed not to restrict access, and families will be permitted to remain on site as long as necessary in the event of enforcement activity..
For those who feel unsafe attending in person, ceremonies will be livestreamed via Zoom.
School police will remain present after each event to ensure families can exit safely.
Carvalho added that he spoke with Mayor Karen Bass late Sunday night. While details of the conversation was not shared publicly, Carvalho suggested additional support, including transportation, would likely be provided by the city.
He said hopes that a situation of ICE agents possibly storming graduation ceremonies and clashing with school board police “will not occur.”
But he added: “We’re prepared for everything.”