by Los Angeles, CA — Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) officials are demanding tighter limits on immigration enforcement near schools after a 15-year-old boy with disabilities was handcuffed and briefly detained outside Arleta High School in what they call a case of mistaken identity.
The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. Monday, just days before more than half a million LAUSD students return to classrooms. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said the boy — a student at San Fernando High School — had accompanied his grandmother to Arleta High to support a relative registering for classes.
While the relative was inside, several officers approached the vehicle, initially stating they were not with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, district-reviewed video reportedly showed both police and U.S. Border Patrol personnel. The teen was pulled from the car and placed in handcuffs before being released after school staff and Los Angeles police intervened.
Community Reaction
Parents and local leaders have condemned the detention, calling it frightening and unnecessary. “Our kids shouldn’t have to be scared of coming to school,” said Yvonne, a district parent. “We shouldn’t be going through this.”
LAUSD Board President Kelly Gonez called the actions “absolutely reprehensible” and part of the “continued unconstitutional targeting of our Latino community.”
Mayor Karen Bass joined district officials in a press conference, saying, “The fact that we even need a press conference to talk about strategies for how we protect our kids is profound… Los Angeles will always stand together in defense of students.”
District Response
In the wake of the incident, LAUSD reaffirmed that schools are “safe spaces” and warned that immigration enforcement near campuses “disrupts learning and creates anxiety that can last far beyond the school day.”
Ahead of the school year, the district has contacted 10,000 potentially impacted families, rerouted bus stops, deployed 1,000 staff to assist in school zones, and expanded virtual options for students afraid to attend in person. Through its We Are One campaign, LAUSD is providing Know Your Rights materials, legal referrals, mental health support, and emergency preparedness resources in English and Spanish.
Families can access resources online or through the district’s 24/7 Family Hotline at (213) 443-1300.
Larger Context
The incident comes as California and the Trump administration clash in court over immigration enforcement tactics. A federal bench trial in San Francisco is underway to determine whether the administration violated the Posse Comitatus Act by deploying thousands of National Guard troops and U.S. Marines in June after protests over ICE arrests. A ruling is expected by the end of the week.
