Homeland Security Who? Feds Get Rejected At TWO L.A. Schools After Trying To Roll Up Uninvited

Two Los Angeles elementary schools turned away Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents earlier this week in what’s believed to be the first attempt by federal officials to enter schools in the city since President Trump resumed aggressive immigration enforcement. The agents attempted to access Lillian Street Elementary and Russell Elementary in the Florence-Graham neighborhood on Monday but were denied entry by school administrators who followed Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) protocols.

The LAUSD confirmed that the agents were not from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) but from DHS. Still, the attempted entry comes on the heels of new Trump-era policies authorizing federal agents to conduct immigration-related investigations in “sensitive areas,” including schools—an approach that diverges sharply from previous Biden-era guidelines. As of Thursday, DHS had not commented publicly, and the agents’ exact purpose for visiting the schools remains unclear.

The failed entry attempts have sparked concern across the city’s immigrant communities, particularly amid national conversations about immigration policy and federal overreach. “Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” said former acting DHS Secretary Benjamine Huffman in January. “The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave [officials] and instead trusts them to use common sense.”

The visits echo similar incidents around the country. In February, Denver Public Schools sued DHS over a policy permitting ICE operations in schools, citing drops in attendance and strained resources. School districts in Chicago and New York City have also raised alarms, with NYC principals recently reminded not to gather immigration status information on students.

California has long offered protections against federal immigration enforcement on school campuses. LAUSD earlier this year distributed “red cards” to students and families, educating them on their constitutional rights and reinforcing the message that ICE agents cannot legally enter schools without a warrant. As The Hill previously reported, administrators are also barred from disclosing any student’s immigration status, reinforcing LAUSD’s commitment to creating safe learning environments for all students regardless of documentation.

Link: Rochester First