LAUSD Turns Away Federal Agents Seeking Access to Elementary Students Near Inglewood

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Superintendent Alberto Carvalho confirmed Thursday that federal agents were turned away from two elementary schools after attempting to gain “access” to young students, raising concerns for immigrant families in Inglewood and surrounding communities.

The incidents occurred at Lillian Street Elementary School and Russell Elementary School in South Los Angeles’ Florence-Graham neighborhood, not far from Inglewood’s eastern border. According to Carvalho, agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sought information about five students in grades one through six.

“The agents represented in both instances to the principals that they wanted access to the students to determine their well being,” Carvalho said during a Thursday press conference. “It is disturbing that during that conversation, they conveyed to both principals that the parents or the legal guardians… provided them authorization for access to these kids in school. That is absolutely, blatantly untrue.”

School administrators at both locations followed district policy by refusing entry to the agents, who did not possess warrants. The superintendent indicated he believes the visits were related to federal immigration enforcement actions.

For Inglewood families with connections to immigrant communities, these incidents may heighten existing concerns about enforcement activities near schools. Inglewood Unified School District, like LAUSD, has policies in place to protect student privacy and ensure schools remain safe spaces for all children regardless of immigration status.

“The children are okay, but the communities are feeling fear, and that is a shame,” said Carvalho, who is himself a Portuguese immigrant. “I am still mystified as to how a first, second, third, fourth or sixth grader, would pose any type of risk to the national security of our nation, that would require Homeland Security to deploy its agents to two elementary schools.”

Local education advocates note that such incidents can have ripple effects throughout neighboring districts like Inglewood, where many families have ties to immigrant communities. School attendance and parent participation can be negatively impacted when families fear interaction with authorities.

Inglewood Unified School District officials have not reported similar incidents at local schools, but the district has previously affirmed its commitment to protecting student privacy and maintaining schools as safe spaces for all students.

Immigration experts remind families that federal immigration agents are typically not permitted to enter schools, churches, or hospitals without a specific warrant signed by a judge. Both LAUSD and Inglewood schools have protocols in place for staff to verify proper documentation before allowing access to students.

Community organizations in Inglewood that work with immigrant families are encouraging parents to know their rights and to maintain regular school attendance for children while staying informed about school district policies designed to protect student privacy.

This story draws on reporting by Ben Chapman, published April 10, 2025.