Homeland Security agents were trying to check the health and safety of children who crossed the border into the United States, DHS said.
Two primary schools in Los Angeles refused to enter the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) investigators on April 7th.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Unified School District refused to tell the times why investigators were turned away, saying all visitors must sign in and be allowed before entering the school’s campus.
The district responded to visits by providing information on illegal immigration rights and resources, promptly sending emergency alerts to the school community, and provided on-site counseling.
According to the DHS, the agent identified the school principal and himself and notified school officials about the purpose of the visit, but was told that a court order was required to enter the facility or receive information about the student.
“These officers were at these schools and were doing wellness checks on unaccompanied children at the border,” a department spokesman told the Epoch Times in an email on April 10.
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“DHS is a major initiative to implement welfare checks on these children to ensure that these children are safe, exploited, abused and sex trafficking,” the spokesman added.
According to DHS, the Los Angeles schools responded to visits about “immigration enforcement activities” by staff, students and parents regarding “immigration enforcement activities,” despite being notified of the purpose of the visit.
Principal Alberto Carvalho said the school will “have the courage” to respond to the visits of agents.
“Our school is a place of inspiration, protection, empathy and knowledge,” Carvalho issued a statement in an Epoch Times email on April 10th. “Fear and threat are fulfilled with courage and determination.”
Lillian Elementary School sent messages to students and staff to warn them of their visit.
“We wanted you to realize that two individuals who identified themselves as representatives of federal agencies had arrived at the main office early today,” the school wrote in a message. “After following district protocols, school administrators refused to enter the individual and they left.”
File photos of elementary school students in Pacoima, California on February 8th, 2019. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
A similar message was sent to the Russell Elementary School community, according to a district spokesperson.
Other schools in the district sent “preventive messages” to the community, warning parents and guardians that they are committed to the well-being and education of all students, according to a district spokesperson.
This message provided mental health support on campus for affected students and employees.
The website also provided information from the Immigration Law Resource Center, a national nonprofit organization, and directed how to order a “red card.” The card lists certain rights and is intended to be carried by illegal immigrants to “protect themselves” against immigrants and customs enforcement.
Less than 70 days later, Noem and Health’s Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reunited with relative or safe parents and nearly 5,000 non-companies, according to a DHS spokesman.
