LOS ANGELES — The new academic year begins Thursday for students and teachers in Los Angeles, but many are returning to class with apprehension. This follows a summer marked by immigration raids and fears that schools may become targets of federal enforcement actions under the current administration.

Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has called on immigration authorities to refrain from conducting enforcement activities within a two-block radius of schools. He requested that this restriction be in place from one hour before school starts until one hour after classes end. "Hungry children, children in fear, cannot learn well," Carvalho stated during a news conference.

To support students and families, the district is implementing several protective measures. These include adjusting bus routes to accommodate more students and distributing family preparedness packets. These packets will contain information on rights, emergency contacts, and guidance on designating a backup caregiver in the event a parent is detained.

The Los Angeles Unified School District is the second largest in the nation, serving over 500,000 students across more than two dozen cities. According to the teachers' union, approximately 30,000 of these students are immigrants, with an estimated 25% lacking legal status.

Concerns about immigration enforcement near schools have been heightened by recent incidents. Although no students have been detained inside schools, a 15-year-old boy was handcuffed outside Arleta High School on Monday. He was released after a bystander intervened, and the incident was described by Carvalho as a case of "mistaken identity." He emphasized, "This is the exact type of incident that traumatizes our communities; it cannot repeat itself."

In April, administrators at two elementary schools denied entry to officials from the Department of Homeland Security. Immigration agents have also been spotted in vehicles near schools. Carvalho noted that while district staff and police cannot interfere with immigration enforcement, they have successfully engaged with federal agents to encourage them to leave school areas.

The district is collaborating with local law enforcement to create a "rapid response" network that will inform the community about the presence of federal agents.

Teachers are worried that some students may not attend school on the first day. Lupe Carrasco Cardona, a high school teacher at the Roybal Learning Center, recalled a slight dip in attendance when the current administration took office. The situation worsened in June, just before graduation ceremonies, when raids disrupted celebrations. Cardona recounted a raid at a Home Depot near MacArthur Park coinciding with an eighth-grade graduation, which left many parents absent. "People were crying; for the actual graduation ceremony, there were hardly any parents there," she said.

One student, who requested anonymity due to her immigration status, expressed her fears about returning to school. "Instead of feeling excited, really what I’m feeling is concern," said Madelyn, a 17-year-old from Central America. She shared her anxiety about using public transportation, fearing that immigration agents might target her because of her appearance. "We are simply young people with dreams who want to study, move forward and contribute to this country as well," she added.

Madelyn is part of a club that supports immigrant students and plans to continue her advocacy despite her fears. "I plan to continue supporting other students who need it very much, even if I feel scared," she said. "But I have to be brave."

In response to these concerns, some families have opted for online learning, leading to a 7% increase in virtual enrollment this year. The district has reached out to over 10,000 parents and visited more than 800 families during the summer to provide information on resources such as transportation and legal support. On the first day of classes, 1,000 district workers will be deployed to areas that have experienced immigration raids. Carvalho stated, "We want no one to stay home as a result of fears."