LA school creates safety plan as ICE raids spark fear among immigrant families

During a surge of immigration enforcement in Los Angeles in 2025, ICE agents and accompanying National Guard troops patrolled South Los Angeles, where many residents are Spanish-speaking and foreign-born. Axel Lopez, a 16-year-old student, saw agents tail his brother’s car and later witnessed a forceful attempt to breach the brother’s barbershop. He alerted Assistant Principal Lorena Reynoso, who mobilized school counselors, social workers and local volunteers to document the incident, raise funds through GoFundMe and provide legal resources.

The school issued “Know Your Rights” cards, set up a food-distribution plan and developed a contingency strategy for potential ICE presence on campus. Los Angeles Unified School District leadership reaffirmed its long-standing rule that immigration officers are barred from district schools. Mental-health experts cited the episode as a source of chronic stress and trauma for undocumented youth, emphasizing community-based healing and cultural pride initiatives.