Correspondence - Item 27 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Congre,5.5 of the uniteb *tate.5 Va�oington, M(f 20515 April 11, 2025 The Honorable Kristi Noem Secretary Department of Homeland Security Washington, D.C. 20528 Dear Secretary Noem, We write with extreme concern regarding the visit of Department of Homeland Security personnel to Los Angeles Unified School District(LAUSD) elementary schools on April 7t'', 2025. We demand that you provide our offices with the justification for conducting this operation, and that you desist from immigration enforcement activity targeting children who pose no threat to public safety. Your Department has claimed that members of the Trade Fraud Group from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) visited Russel Elementary and Lillian Elementary in Florence-Firestone, Los Angeles to conduct welfare checks on children. Agents attempted to enter both schools without warrants, and were rightly turned away by LAUSD staff, in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and local policies. LAUSD staff have informed us that the four students targeted at Russell Elementary were not, in fact, unaccompanied minors. This raises serious questions about the truthfulness of your Department, and the safety of our constituents. While you claim that your policy was designed to protect children, you have been a vocal defender of Donald Trump's family separation policy.' We note that just days after this incident, the Supreme Court unanimously ordered the administration to facilitate the return of an innocent Maryland resident with legal status, who was deported to prison El Salvador after utterly baseless allegations that he was involved in gang activity. Further, your Department has elected to end critical safeguards which protect schools, houses of worship and other sensitive locations from immigration enforcement activity. This policy is completely at odds with your claim to be protecting children. Schools must be safe spaces for the children they serve. The United States Supreme Court has ruled that all students have a right to a public education, no matter their immigration status. If parents and children cannot access schools without fear of deportation or harassment, you deny that right. In light of these facts, we note with particular concern that according to LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, School employees asked your agents for identification. However, when challenged, agents pocketed their IDs and refused to allow staff to write down names and badge numbers. Further, LASUD staff report that your agents falsely claimed to have permission from students' guardians to enter the school. Superintendent Carvalho stated, however that LAUSD staff had "spoken with the caretakers of these children, in some cases, parents, and they deny any interaction with these entities and certainly deny providing authorization for these individuals." z If your agents attempted to conceal their identities, attempted to enter school facilities on false pretenses, or attempted to lie to LAUSD staff, you undermine public safety. If you falsely claim to be conducting welfare 'Grabenstein H. (2025,January 17).WATCH:Blumenthal and Noem spar over family separation at the border.PBS NewsHour. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-blumenthal-and-noem-spar-over-family-separation-at-the-border 'Dale,M.,&Brenneman,R. (2025,April 10).Homeland Security agents attempted to enter 2 LAUSD schools.Here's what families should know.LAist. https://Iaist.com/news/education/homeland-security-immigration-lausd-schools-trump-administration