February 19, 2025, 6:09PM PST
Congresswoman Nanette Barragán joined LAUSD Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho today at Stephen M. White Middle School.
Barragan promised to protect children amidst Trump’s efforts to eliminate the Department of Education, and his threats of increased immigration enforcement. She says education funding is in chaos in this administration, as school funding becomes politicized.
“This is not American values,” Barragán said. “This is not what we do in a democracy. This is what you do in a dictatorship, right? You don’t take into consideration ideology.”
She criticized Trump for making ideological decisions as he purges much of the federal workforce.
“Him trying to do that in [the] Department of Education, I think is illegal,” Barragán said. “I think it’s wrong. It’s un American.”
10th District PTSA President Leslie Menjivar talked about advocating for children’s families and public education through LAUSD, which has provided her own family with a quality education.
“We believe every child deserves a quality public education,” Menjivar said. “Many of our members are LAUSD products and their children, like mine, are LAUSD graduates who were afforded the opportunity to pursue a higher education because of the public school education and support.”
Carvalho was perhaps the most impassioned speaker at the conference. He says educators have a professional and moral obligation to protect children and their families regardless of immigration status. The Trump administration has rolled back policies that limited immigration arrests at sensitive locations, like churches and schools.
“As a school board, we have declared that our schools are safe spaces,” Carvalho said. “Over my dead body shall an illegal action be attempted in our schools to take a child from our protection, that should not happen. Shouldn’t even be a threat and will not happen in this school district.”
Trump’s rhetoric has frightened immigrant families; that fear was not lost on Carvalho. In addition to reminding parents that it’s important to know their rights, he made it clear to families that their children will be protected.
“So to our parents, I say, trust us,” said Carvalho. “Send your children to our schools. Your children are safe, but also take measures to protect yourself and your children.”