Protesters and the teachers' union are pushing for LAUSD to strengthen protections for immigrants
Los Angeles Teachers Union Demands Stronger Protections for Immigrant Families
The Los Angeles Unified Teachers Union (UTLA) and its allies have made a series of demands aimed at protecting immigrant families and students within the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).
During a large rally and march on Saturday, the union called for the district to take several measures to ensure the safety and well-being of immigrant families, including:
- Pushing for the return of all students who have been detained or deported by immigration authorities.
- Establishing a clear perimeter or buffer zone around schools, keeping federal immigration agents away from school campuses.
- Developing a virtual learning option for students who have been deported to complete their high school diplomas remotely.
- Providing food and personal supplies to immigrant students affected by immigration enforcement pressures.
The union also called for a "formal campaign" to update emergency cards and add additional trusted adults to a family's contacts, in case parents are detained.
The demands were made during a rally outside school district headquarters, which attracted about 500 participants and included a march through downtown Los Angeles. Speakers at the rally included Vanessa Guerrero, a senior at Miguel Contreras Learning Complex, who spoke about a classmate who was seized and deported. UTLA President Cecily Myart-Cruz demanded LAUSD to publicly call local and state leaders for the immediate return of all students who have been deported or detained.
LAUSD officials have responded by emphasizing their efforts to maintain schools as safe havens. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has said outreach for updating emergency cards and providing support to affected families is ongoing. School board President Scott Schmerelson said the district would consider any steps to protect and support families. School district officials have also touted a list of measures taken to protect students and families, including distributing "Know your rights" cards to students and training staff on how to respond to immigration enforcement encounters.
At his back-to-school address, Superintendent Carvalho saluted two principals who turned away immigration agents at two elementary school campuses. However, it's not clear if the district has the jurisdiction beyond school grounds or if they are currently involved in litigation with the Trump administration.
It's not clear how many students or family members of students have been taken into custody or deported, as the school district does not collect information on immigration status. However, the union's demands highlight the growing concern among educators and students about the impact of immigration enforcement on schools and communities.
"Some of these ideas seem very workable," Schmerelson said, referring to the concept of a safety perimeter. The union's central demands focus on preventing immigration enforcement intrusion near schools, supporting deported students with remote education options, returning deported students, and providing basic support to immigrant students and families within the district.
- The Los Angeles Unified Teachers Union (UTLA) has demanded that the local and state leaders be publicly called for the immediate return of all students who have been deported or detained.
- The union has called for the establishment of a clear perimeter or buffer zone around schools, keeping federal immigration agents away from school campuses.
- One of the demands made by the union is to develop a virtual learning option for students who have been deported to complete their high school diplomas remotely.
- School district officials have touted a list of measures taken to protect students and families, such as distributing "Know your rights" cards to students and training staff on how to respond to immigration enforcement encounters.
- The demands from the union have highlighted the growing concern among educators and students about the impact of immigration enforcement on schools and communities in California.
- The Union's central demands focus on preventing immigration enforcement intrusion near schools, supporting deported students with remote education options, returning deported students, and providing basic support to immigrant students and families within the district, with some of these ideas seeming very workable according to School Board President Scott Schmerelson.
