Alex Padilla U.S. Senator for California

After meeting with Homeland Security Investigations last week, Senators express serious concerns about fear caused by HSI’s school visit, push for no further visits without a warrant

LOS ANGELES, CA — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) demanded additional answers from the Trump Administration regarding last week’s attempt by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents to enter two Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) elementary schools to question students. Their letter follows a meeting with HSI leadership and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials last week that raised additional questions on how and why these visits to LAUSD elementary schools were conducted. The Senators expressed serious concern about the erosion of public trust in the local community and called for assurances that ICE agents do not attempt to visit or enter schools without a warrant.

In the Senators’ meeting last week with HSI and ICE officials, HSI claimed that they went to LAUSD schools to conduct a “welfare check” on formerly unaccompanied children. Padilla and Schiff questioned why HSI did not coordinate with the California Department of Social Services or the schools if they believed these children were at risk, and pressed HSI leadership not to undertake any further “welfare checks” without a warrant.

“We are deeply concerned that HSI officers attempted to question several children, between first and sixth grade, during the school day apparently without contacting or coordinating in advance with the schools, parents or guardians, or state or local child welfare agencies,” wrote the Senators. “Though the agents were purportedly there to conduct a ‘welfare check’ on the children, their actions instead terrorized hundreds of thousands of students across Los Angeles and undermine public trust. We urge you to ensure that HSI does not conduct any additional ‘welfare checks’ on school premises and that ICE agents do not attempt to visit or enter schools without a warrant.”

“These types of ‘welfare checks’ scare children and their family members, rather than promote their safety,” continued the Senators. “If ICE and HSI want to ensure unaccompanied children’s welfare, these agencies should urge the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within the Department of Health and Human Services and the White House to restore legal and social services for these children, rather than terrorizing them and their classmates at school.”

While trying to enter these schools, HSI agents reportedly falsely told staff that they had gotten prior permission from the students’ families to talk to them. The Senators asked for a review of the agents’ alleged conduct, including why they reportedly felt compelled to deceitfully claim they had permission to speak with students.

Additionally, the Senators demanded a full briefing on the nature, scale, and purpose of these “welfare checks,” the policies and protocols involved, and whether steps were taken to consult with victim services, experts, and children’s attorneys before these visits. They also asked for information on whether ICE has conducted subsequent immigration enforcement in California or across the country during these “welfare checks.”

In a joint statement last week, Padilla and Schiff expressed their outrage at HSI agents’ attempts to enter LAUSD elementary schools.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Acting Executive Associate Director Hammer,

Thank you for taking the time to speak with us last week. We write to express our continued outrage with the conduct of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents who attempted to enter two Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) elementary schools earlier this month. We are deeply concerned that HSI officers attempted to question several children, between first and sixth grade, during the school day apparently without contacting or coordinating in advance with the schools, parents or guardians, or state or local child welfare agencies. Though the agents were purportedly there to conduct a “welfare check” on the children, their actions instead terrorized hundreds of thousands of students across Los Angeles and undermine public trust. We urge you to ensure that HSI does not conduct any additional “welfare checks” on school premises and that ICE agents do not attempt to visit or enter schools without a warrant.

We understand from our conversation with you that the stated purpose of HSI agents at the school was not to conduct immigration enforcement, but instead to undertake a “welfare check” on formerly unaccompanied children. We do not understand why, if you obtained evidence that led you to believe that these children were in danger, your agency has not made a referral to the California Department of Social Services and did not coordinate with the school in advance of the “welfare check” regarding potential child welfare or trafficking concerns.

When we spoke, we informed you that reports indicated that, while attempting to enter the schools, HSI officers falsely told school staff that they received permission from the families to speak with their children. You informed us that you were unfamiliar with those details and would look into the matter. We would like to understand what steps you are taking to review and address your agents’ conduct, including determining why they said they received permission to speak with children from their families when that was not the case.

We also request that you provide us with a full briefing on the nature, scale, and objectives of, and policies and protocols surrounding these “welfare checks,” including whether there was any officer training, coordination with victim services, or consultation with experts about conducting these visits with a victim-centered approach, as well as whether ICE is contacting children’s attorneys of record prior to conducting “welfare checks” of represented children. We further request information on what, if any, enforcement actions against formerly unaccompanied children and/or their sponsors ICE has performed in connection with the “welfare checks” both in California and nationally, including any initiation of removal proceedings, detentions, or removals.

These types of “welfare checks” scare children and their family members, rather than promote their safety. If ICE and HSI want to ensure unaccompanied children’s welfare, these agencies should urge the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within the Department of Health and Human Services and the White House to restore legal and social services for these children, rather than terrorizing them and their classmates at school.

We ask that you respond to our questions by May 2, 2025. We urge you to end any efforts to conduct “welfare checks” on school premises and to ensure that ICE agents do not attempt to visit or enter schools without a warrant.

Sincerely,

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