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Thousands of immigrant students flee LA Unified Schools after ‘chilling effect’ of ICE raids

This school year, Los Angeles Unified School District lost more than 13,000 immigrant students after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement stepped up activity in March, officials said.
Economic and demographic trends such as rising housing costs and lower birth rates have pushed LAUSD families out, while falling birth rates in Latino families have reshaped district demographics this year.
In response, LAUSD established perimeters and launched legal supports after federal agents from Homeland Security/ICE visited schools this year, with at least two students arrested outside, and staff turned agents away at two schools in April.
The enrollment shortfall forced district leaders to acknowledge LAUSD enrolled 392,654 students this term, a 4% drop from last year, missing budget process targets and prompting tough choices soon.
Long-Term data show Los Angeles Unified School District enrollment has cratered since its 2002 peak of 746,831, now with about half as many immigrant children and about 62,000 English learners, a trend seen in Denver, Miami and San Diego.

Insights by Ground AI