House Democrats Demand Justification from DHS Over Student Contact Attempts
WASHINGTON — Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach) and a group of 17 fellow Democrats are seeking answers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding a recent incident in which federal agents attempted to engage with students at two elementary schools in the Los Angeles area.
Incident Overview
Last week, federal officials made unannounced visits to Russell Elementary and Lillian Street Elementary located in South Los Angeles, where they requested to speak with five students from grades one through six. However, school principals denied their access, leading to immediate concerns from educators and lawmakers alike.
Content of the Letter
In a letter sent on Friday to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Garcia emphasized the potential dangers of mischaracterizing such operations. The letter explicitly stated, “If you falsely claim to be conducting welfare checks while actually targeting children for deportation, you undermine willingness to cooperate with law enforcement, provoke fear, and undermine public trust.” The lawmakers additionally urged the department to cease immigration enforcement actions involving minors who do not present a public safety risk.
Claims from DHS
In response to inquiries, Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at DHS, stated that the intent behind the visits was to conduct welfare checks on children who had previously arrived unaccompanied at the U.S. border. “DHS is leading efforts to conduct welfare checks on these children to ensure that they are safe and not being exploited, abused, or sex trafficked,” she clarified.
Contradicting Information
However, Rep. Garcia pointed out that staff from the Los Angeles Unified School District reported that the students targeted at Russell Elementary were not, in fact, unaccompanied minors. This discrepancy raises important questions about the transparency and credibility of DHS operations, as noted in the letter: “This raises serious questions about the truthfulness of your department, and the safety of our constituents.”
Background and Policy Changes
The incident occurs in a broader context of changes to immigration enforcement policies. Beginning with the Trump administration, immigrants have been increasingly scrutinized in sensitive areas such as schools and healthcare facilities, where agents were previously restricted from making arrests. This shift has caused trepidation among educators regarding the safety and well-being of immigrant students.
Significance of the Incident
Rep. Garcia, who serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security, is investigating whether this incident marks a first for federal immigration agents interfacing directly with K-12 students in schools across the United States. He expressed concern that these actions represent a troubling trend targeting vulnerable communities, particularly those in neighborhoods with high populations of immigrant families.
Conclusion
The demands for accountability from House Democrats reflect growing apprehension about the conducted immigration enforcement practices of DHS, especially those pertaining to minors. As the situation evolves, educators and lawmakers alike continue to seek clarification and assurance regarding the safety of immigrant students in their schools.