On first day of school, fears of ICE raids cloud LAUSD rituals

The first day of school in Los Angeles unfolded as no other —with safety zones set up around campuses to protect students and their immigrant families from agents of the federal government.

- BY CHRISTOPHER BUCHANAN, MALIA MENDEZ, KATE SEQUEIRA AND HOWARD BLUME

TRANSITIONAL kindergartner Kobi Bryant walks with her mother, Monae Richardson, on the red carpet at 24th Street Elementary.

Despite ongoing concerns, educators made sure back-to-school welcomes were especially festive as yearly rituals unfolded across the nation’s second-largest school district: Balloons at the schoolhouse entrance, crying 5-year-olds with nearly crying parents and teenagers who appear too cool for school but were thrilled to see friends and eager to meet their teachers.

At 24th Street Elementary, southwest of downtown, children entered to cheers from staff gathered out front.

The warm welcome and the volunteer patrols tamped down the anxiety of Paola and Andrea, each of whom dropped off a third-grader. They were happy to be able to take their children to their first day, despite the fear they felt as immigrants without legal status to remain in the country.

Neither family had spent much time outside their homes since June, when immigration enforcement surged, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents sweeping into public places to detain workers and others in the vicinity.

But the two 24th Street moms are convinced that the L.A. Unified School District is taking extensive precautions to minimize risk.

“They told me that the children, while they're here inside, are safe," said Paola, who asked that she not be fully identified because of safety concerns.

Fears were heightened Monday when federal agents reportedly drew their guns on and handcuffed a 15-year-old boy with disabilities outside Arleta High School in a case of mistaken identity.

Federal officials said they were looking to apprehend a suspected MS-13 gang member and instead nabbed the person's cousin. Federal authorities said they apprehended the actual suspect later in the day.