Los Angeles Teachers Union Rallies for Immigrant Family Protections

Educators and students rally in Los Angeles advocating for stronger protections for immigrant families.

News Summary

The United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) held a rally to demand stronger protections for immigrant families amid a rise in deportations. About 500 participants marched to urge the Los Angeles Unified School District to act on immigration policies that affect students and their families. Attendees expressed concerns over increasing fears related to deportation and urged the school district to implement protective measures such as legal support and emergency contact campaigns. This event highlights ongoing tensions regarding immigration enforcement in schools.

Los Angeles Teachers Union Holds Rally Demanding Stronger Protections for Immigrant Families Amid Rising Deportations

Los Angeles – United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), the teachers union representing around 38,000 education professionals, held a rally on Saturday in front of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) headquarters. The event aimed to urge the school district to take a stronger stance in advocating for immigrant families, particularly in light of increasing deportations.

Approximately 500 people attended the rally, which featured a march through downtown Los Angeles. Participants, many of whom donned bright red UTLA shirts, chanted slogans including “Education not deportation” and “Say it loud! Say it clear! Immigrants are welcome here!” The event served as a platform for students and educators to express their concerns over the impact of immigration policies on the community.

One attendee, Vanessa Guerrero, a rising senior at Miguel Contreras Learning Complex, recounted the disturbing experience of a classmate who was seized and deported while attending an immigration appointment. Guerrero characterized her classmate as a dedicated honors student who contributed positively to the school community. She conveyed the growing fear among students regarding potential deportations and the resulting uncertainty faced by immigrant families.

The UTLA is now calling for a confrontational approach towards the Trump administration, potentially involving legal action to bolster protections for immigrant rights. While school district officials have criticized the actions of the federal government, they noted that they are not engaged in active litigation, and the district does not track students’ immigration status. As a result, they remain unaware of the number of students or family members who have been detained or deported.

Specific Demands Presented

The union presented several specific demands during the rally, which include:

Establishing a two-block perimeter around schools to prevent immigration agents from entering those areas.
Launching a formal campaign to assist families in updating emergency contacts for situations involving parent detainment.
Compensating counselors to return to work prior to the new school year to provide support for affected families.
Providing food and personal care items for undocumented families sheltering at home.
Offering virtual learning options for students afraid to attend school in person due to the threat of immigration raids.
Creating a pathway for deported students to earn high school diplomas remotely.
Providing legal support for those impacted by immigration enforcement actions.

Community Support and Response

Superintendent Alberto Carvalho praised school principals who have successfully turned immigration agents away from school campuses, emphasizing their protective roles in the community. UTLA officials assert that the district’s existing safety policies are insufficient in addressing the fears faced by immigrant families on a daily basis.

Some union members expressed further frustration by threatening to shut down the school system if their demands were not met, channeling their angst primarily toward federal immigration policies. School Board President Scott Schmerelson, who was present at the rally, acknowledged that some of the proposed measures appeared feasible and indicated a willingness to consider steps aimed at safeguarding families within the district.

Joint statements from the school district affirmed their commitment to protecting all children in Los Angeles, including those from immigrant backgrounds. The timing of the rally coincided with a recent federal court ruling that temporarily barred the Trump administration from carrying out indiscriminate immigration arrests, further fueling the union’s motivation to push for concrete changes in policy.