DHS denies ICE carried out immigration actions at elementary schools

Key Takeaways

• DHS denied ICE conducted immigration enforcement at LA elementary schools after April 2025 visits, citing only welfare checks.
• Policy ending ‘protected areas’ now allows ICE to conduct enforcement in schools, though no removals reported since January 2025.
• Schools follow strict legal protocols, requiring court orders before allowing agents to access students or records.

Recent events involving the United States 🇺🇸 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the topic of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at elementary schools have caused a lot of worry for many families, students, and teachers. These concerns became louder after reports spread about federal agents visiting elementary school campuses in Los Angeles. Some people believed that these visits were related to immigration enforcement, which made many in the local and wider immigrant community fearful. The DHS, however, has made a public statement denying that ICE conducted any immigration enforcement activity at elementary schools. This article aims to explain what happened, the background behind these concerns, and what it all means for schools and immigrant families moving forward.

What Sparked the Controversy?

During April 2025, at least two schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District, Russell Elementary School and Lillian Street Elementary School, received visits from people who identified themselves as federal agents. According to district officials, the agents said they were from federal agencies, and they tried to enter the schools. However, the administrators at both schools did not allow them in, following school district rules which state that federal officers need to show a legal warrant or a court order to access the students or campus.

The main worry among many in the community was that these agents were working with ICE and were there to remove or interview students as part of immigration enforcement. This worry was not only felt by families with mixed immigration statuses, but also by school staff and local officials, who have seen how past immigration enforcement actions can disrupt school life and cause serious stress for students.

DHS Denies Enforcement Activity

After these events made the news and caused an outcry, DHS gave a detailed statement to the public and the media. DHS said that ICE, the branch of their agency that focuses on immigration enforcement, did not conduct any enforcement actions at the schools. According to their official statement:

“ICE did not conduct any enforcement action at the school. HSI agents were present… unrelated to any kind of enforcement action.” – DHS Statement

They explained that the visits were not about catching or removing undocumented students or family members. Instead, the agents from ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit were doing what they described as “welfare checks.” These welfare checks focused on the safety and well-being of children who had recently arrived at the border as unaccompanied minors, meaning these children came to the United States 🇺🇸 without their parents or legal guardians.

Details of the Incidents at LAUSD Elementary Schools

The two Los Angeles elementary schools involved—Russell and Lillian Street—were both visited in April 2025. School leaders at each location followed district policy and did not let the agents inside the campus unless they showed a court order or warrant, which the officers did not have.

Important facts about these incidents include:
– The officers identified themselves as being from federal agencies.
– They were blocked from entering because school policy did not allow it without proper court documents.
– The agents said they had permission from parents or caretakers of the students they wanted to see.
– LAUSD conducted its own review and found that neither the parents nor the primary caretakers had given any such permission.
– The district sent messages to all parents explaining what happened and making it very clear that no children were removed from the campus and that the visits were not related to immigration enforcement.
– No reports have surfaced that students were taken from these schools during the visits.

Even with these reassurances, fear remains in many school communities—especially among those who may be undocumented or have mixed-status families.

Background: Protected Areas and Policy Changes

For a long time, places like schools, hospitals, and churches were considered “protected areas” by the DHS and ICE. This meant that ICE would avoid going to these places to look for or arrest people for immigration reasons unless there was a very serious case, like a national security threat.

But starting in January 2025, the Trump administration decided to end the protected area policy. Legally, this now allows ICE to carry out immigration enforcement in places like elementary schools, hospitals, and churches if agents decide it is needed.

The table below shows the key policy shift:

Despite this change in official policy, both DHS and the White House say that there have been no reports of immigration arrests or removals inside K–12 public schools since the change. They state that even under the new rules, actual removals or enforcement inside elementary schools are rare and would only happen in very unusual situations.

How Did the Schools Respond?

School districts across the country, not just in Los Angeles, have been reviewing and tightening their policies since the policy change. Many districts are preparing staff in case ICE or other federal agents come to campuses. This includes teaching school staff about what to do if agents arrive, and reminding them that they can and should ask for a court order signed by a judge, not just an administrative warrant (which is easier for agents to get and may not hold up in court).

Los Angeles Unified School District has also updated its guidance and is sharing clear information with students and parents so that everyone understands their rights. For example, if federal officers come to a school:
– Staff should ask to see a court order before allowing them access to a student.
– The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects most student records and information; only a court order signed by a judge allows release of that information.
– Administrators should contact district legal teams right away.

Concerns in the Community

Even with official reassurances, worries remain for many families, especially those with uncertain immigration status or who have recently arrived in the United States 🇺🇸. The fear is that children might be questioned or even taken away at school—one of the few places where they have always felt safe and welcome.

Lawmakers have responded to these concerns. Senator Padilla and Representative Schiff have requested answers about why federal agents visited the LAUSD schools, and whether these welfare checks could have been done in another way. They want to make sure that DHS and ICE do not bypass proper legal steps, such as informing parents or having a real court order.

Educators say that even hearing about federal agent visits adds to the stress that many immigrant families already feel. In many cases, it also causes students to miss school or feel scared to attend, which can hurt their education. Teachers and school leaders are urging the federal government to respect schools as places where children learn and are protected, no matter where their families come from.

Legal Issues: What Does the Law Say?

Schools must follow several laws when handling requests from DHS or ICE. The key law is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA says that schools cannot give away most student information to outsiders unless:
– The parent or guardian has given written permission, or
– The request comes with a court order signed by a judge.

A warrant signed by a federal immigration agency (an “administrative warrant”) is not enough—because it is not signed by a judge. If ICE brings an administrative warrant to a school, the school does not have to (and should not) let them access any records or students.

Schools also have policies in place to protect children, including making sure parents know when something unusual happens. LAUSD and other districts reminded families that they cannot legally allow agents to access students without following these very strict standards.

How Other Groups Are Responding

Many advocacy groups, school organizations, and local officials have stepped up their efforts to protect students and their families. They are offering more workshops and sharing information about what rights families have if ICE or DHS visits a school or shows up at a home.

Some groups have pushed for new state and local laws that would go even further than federal rules, making it more difficult for ICE to come onto school grounds or access student information. While it is legal under current federal policy for agents to go to schools under certain conditions, school districts and many communities are still fighting to keep schools as safe spaces.

Effects of Misinformation and Rumors

The recent events also show how quickly rumors about immigration enforcement can spread and create panic, even when no enforcement actually takes place. In Los Angeles, the first stories about the school visits made many people think children had been taken from their families at school by ICE. While that was not true, the fear it produced was very real.

VisaVerge.com’s investigation reveals that fast communication from school districts, clear public statements from DHS, and ongoing education about rights and policies are key to calming fears when these situations arise. Transparency and trust between schools and families are more important than ever.

Moving Forward: What Can Schools and Families Do?

Given the current uncertainty and the end of the protected area policy, educators suggest that families should:
– Stay informed about your local school district’s policies when it comes to DHS and ICE.
– Make sure your child’s school has your up-to-date contact information.
– Ask school staff how they handle visits from law enforcement or immigration officers.
– Reassure your children that schools are doing everything they can to keep students safe.

School leaders are committed to protecting all children and will keep fighting for clear policies that respect students’ rights. They are also encouraging parents to watch for any policy changes at the federal level, which could affect what happens on campus.

The Bigger Picture: National Policy and Local Realities

This situation highlights a deep divide in the country over how immigration enforcement should be balanced with the rights and safety of students at elementary schools. On one side, DHS and ICE say they must check on the safety of children who arrive at the border without family, and sometimes this means contacting schools. On the other side, educators, lawmakers, and families say that schools should be off-limits for enforcement actions, because the safety and sense of trust for their students is too important to risk.

The rescinding of the protected area policy has raised worries that more enforcement might take place in schools, even if DHS says it is not happening now. Many are calling for federal leaders to create a clear, fair policy that makes sure all students can attend elementary schools without fear.

For families and educators wanting up-to-date information, the official DHS website provides direct updates on its rules and ongoing statements about activities involving ICE and schools.

Summary

Recent federal agent visits to Los Angeles elementary schools set off alarms, especially for immigrant families, but DHS has strongly denied that ICE did any immigration enforcement at these schools. The official explanation is that these were welfare checks on children who entered the United States 🇺🇸 as unaccompanied minors. Still, because of recent changes that ended existing protections for schools, many remain wary and are pushing for stronger rules to keep schools safe from enforcement activities. Ongoing updates from school districts, lawmakers, and DHS will likely shape how this issue moves forward, as well as the peace of mind for students and families across the country.

Learn Today

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) → A U.S. government agency overseeing immigration, border control, and national security, including ICE activities.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) → A government agency responsible for enforcing federal immigration laws and deporting undocumented individuals in the U.S.
Protected Areas → Locations like schools or churches where ICE enforcement was previously limited unless in very serious cases.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) → A division of ICE focused on investigating crimes and conducting safety checks, not always related to deportation.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) → A federal law that protects the privacy of student education records and restricts their release without parental consent or a judge’s court order.

This Article in a Nutshell

Recent reports of federal agents visiting Los Angeles elementary schools caused community concern. Although fears of ICE raids rose, DHS denied any enforcement, labeling the visits ‘welfare checks.’ Policy changes mean ICE can access schools, but actual removals haven’t happened. Schools reinforce legal protocols to safeguard students and families.
— By VisaVerge.com

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