State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Condemns Attempted Homeland Security Enforcement Activities at Elementary Schools in Los Angeles Unified

SACRAMENTO—Today, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond released the public statement below in reaction to the actions of Homeland Security agents at Los Angeles public schools:

“We are appalled to learn about teams of Homeland Security agents disrupting two elementary schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District on Monday. They entered the front office without warrants, targeting young children who attend those schools.

Every child in this country and in our state has a legal right to attend school and to learn, regardless of their immigration status. This right is enshrined in our state constitution and has been affirmed by the Supreme Court.

Families should never be afraid to send their children to school, and our schools must not become a place where children fear these sorts of actions. I am proud of our school employees who followed local protocols and denied these officers unauthorized access to innocent children who pose no risk to our national security.

These disturbing events underscore the urgency of SB 48, which I have sponsored to prevent immigration enforcement on all California school campuses without lawful warrants. This sort of activity at schools was unheard of prior to this presidential administration, as schools and houses of worship were protected. This new administration clearly believes that schools are no longer off limits. We will not allow this to continue in California!

We must have the courage and moral fortitude to protect the most vulnerable among us and to ensure that every single child growing up in California is safe and can focus on learning and growing while at school.”

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Tony Thurmond — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100