A grieving mom is looking for justice for her daughter. She’s just filed a claim for $1 million in damages after federal immigration agents recently kidnapped her 15-year-old son at gunpoint in front of Arleta High School in Los Angeles. The tragic events of August 11th have led to a national outcry. Nothing gets their blood boiling more than threatening students’ safety walking to school.
The boy, a U.S. citizen with disabilities, had been traveling in a car with his mother. All at once masked immigration agents surrounded them. They illegally pulled both men out of the car. In turn, the mother sued the Trump administration for false imprisonment and “unconstitutional racial profiling.” According to the Carrillo law firm, the federal agents had no reasonable suspicion or probable cause to stop and detain the boy. Accordingly, his wrongful detention caused him to suffer physical injury and emotional distress.
This incident is not isolated. Just last week, police arrested an 18-year-old for walking his dog. He was just weeks away from beginning his senior year of high school. These kinds of incidents have stoked concerns about the activities of immigration enforcement agents, specifically in and around schools.
Congresswoman Luz Rivas strongly criticized the administration’s approach. According to her, “The continued reliance on violent tactics to intimidate our students and families is inexcusable.” Superintendent of the LAUSD Alberto M. Carvalho likely would agree with this opinion. He makes the case that immigration enforcement around our schools not only interrupts learning, but creates fear and trauma that extends well beyond the school day.
The Department of Homeland Security defended the actions of its agents, describing it as a “targeted operation on a criminal illegal alien.” However, the agency’s response has not quelled public concern about the implications of such aggressive tactics near schools.
The mom summarized why it’s so hard to justify this kind of treatment, asking, “What’s thrilling about having guns trained on you? Even so, this incident has brought back the conversation around immigration policies and what they’re doing to vulnerable communities.
The emotional price to the family is huge. Yet this is hardly an outlier. Nationwide, the precarity of students’ overall safety should give anyone pause, as young people run between home, school, and everyday life in their neighborhoods. The Carrillo law firm has filed a Notice of Claim to hold these federal agents accountable. They are making the claim that the agents executed an illegal action that continues to affect the young disabled boy for decades.
“Disrupts learning and creates anxiety that can last far beyond the school day.” – Alberto M Carvalho
As the story continues to develop, community members and officials alike are grappling with the implications of this incident and the broader issue of immigration enforcement in sensitive areas.