Los Angeles — Teachers Rally for LAUSD to Strengthen Protections for Immigrant Students Amid ICE Raids

Hundreds of educators from United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), joined by students and community allies, marched to the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) headquarters on August 2–3, 2025. They called on the district to implement stronger measures to safeguard immigrant students and their families facing heightened federal immigration enforcement in the city.

Key Demands from the Rally:

• Establish a two‑block safety perimeter around all LAUSD schools to prohibit ICE operations near campuses.

• Provide emergency food and care supplies to families affected by ICE activity.

• Offer virtual learning options for undocumented students afraid to attend in-person classes.

• Collaborate with local and state authorities to advocate for the repatriation and academic continuity of students deported during enforcement actions.

Student speakers described a climate of fear where many students are too scared to come to school. One student shared that a classmate was deported after being detained with her mother at an immigration appointment—cutting short her senior year dreams.

District Response

LAUSD leadership reaffirmed its commitment to immigrant student safety. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho emphasized that all district campuses are sanctuary spaces and shared concern over what he called “unnecessary fear, confusion, and trauma” caused by nearby immigration enforcement activity.

In June, LAUSD implemented “perimeters of safety” around graduation ceremonies and school events. School police directed traffic flow around venues, shortened waiting lines, monitored buses and stops, and offered virtual attendance options to family members—protecting attendees from ICE presence.

Superintendent Carvalho has pledged that these protections would carry over into summer school, which began in mid‑June, with expanded transportation and virtual access for students and families.

Context & Background

The rallies and demands follow June 2025 federal immigration raids across Los Angeles, triggering widespread protests. LA’s downtown protests escalated into confrontations involving the California National Guard and federal agents, with at least 575 arrests made and injuries reported among protesters and police alike.

In a notable incident, David Huerta, president of SEIU California, was detained while observing an ICE operation and later charged with impeding federal agents. His arrest sparked a coordinated labor response, with union leaders nationwide demanding his immediate release and urgently denouncing the Trump administration’s aggressive enforcement tactics.

UTLA and allied community members are pressing LAUSD to move beyond existing sanctuary declarations and graduation protections toward a more robust, district‑led shield for immigrant families—including firm buffer zones, social and legal support services, and sustained virtual learning paths. The district stands aligned in intent but faces criticism over the limits of its authority off school grounds.