One of the nation’s largest teachers unions promoted a “summer of resistance” against the federal government and claimed that students had been kidnapped by federal officers.
The United Teachers Los Angeles union gave a presentation last year on “Preparing for ICE at your school” that pushed its members to engage in political activism and suggested utilizing school resources to thwart Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, according to materials obtained by Defending Education. The training came after parts of Los Angeles were rocked by violent anti-ICE riots that prompted President Donald Trump to send in the National Guard.
The presentation pointed educators to how they could fight back against the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration and urged parents and teachers to collaborate on “resistance” efforts. It appeared to be created as part of the union’s broader efforts “to build a comprehensive to immigration enforcement.”
Defending Education director of research Rhyen Staley told The Daily Wire that the training was another example of how teachers’ unions push leftist politics over education.
“Unfortunately, these documents are another reminder that the teachers’ unions, especially UTLA, are focused on far-left social justice activism and advancing unpopular ideologies over how to improve the academic outcomes of the students they serve,” he told The Daily Wire. “But what is deeply appalling is the willingness of teachers to incentivize minors to engage in radical practices that could potentially put them in harm’s way.”
The training, which Defending Education noted was created by two members of the union and teachers at the Los Angeles Unified School District, walked educators through legal actions taken to block certain ICE operations in Los Angeles over the summer that culminated in a leftist judge blocking the agency from conducting broad immigration sweeps.
The training did not appear to mention the violence of the anti-ICE protests, which included setting cop cars on fire, vandalism, and assaults on state and federal law enforcement.
Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images.
“The fight is far from over, we need to keep fighting together!” a slide shared with educators read. Another slide titled “What can you do?” instructed educators on how to take action against ICE operations.
The suggested actions included joining “court watch and rally calls,” and funding “community defense work.”
“The government will likely fight back. But the spotlight is now on DHS’s unlawful practices — and our resistance is working!” the slide read. These resources appeared to be pulled from the used materials from the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.
Training obtained by Defending Education.
Another slide highlighted alleged “student kidnappings,” including one that involved a 6-year-old boy with leukemia who was kept with his illegal immigrant parents after an immigration judge ruled against their case. He was not denied or prevented from accessing medical treatment, as was suggested in some reports.
One slide listed specific actions the United Teachers Los Angeles had taken regarding the ICE raids. This included partnering with “other unions for the summer of resistance” for “20 days of non-violent protest and action.”
It also noted that the union and the Los Angeles Unified School District had agreed to “bargaining language” that declares that “the buildings and grounds of LAUSD (including pick-up and drop-off sites at all entries and exits) are sanctuary spaces for all students, parents, administrators, bargaining unit members, and community members at the school for school-related business and jointly committed to defend the right to a free and safe learning environment to the extent permitted by law.”
A spokesman for the district told The Daily Wire that it “follows applicable laws and District policies, which employees are expected to follow during the workday and in their interactions with students.”
The next slide featured suggested actions for members of the union, including “community patrols,” “age-appropriate rallies,” and in-school student protests.
Training obtained by Defending Education.
The training documents also suggest using Local School Leadership Councils “as a form of resistance.” These are groups of elected parents, community members, and school officials who oversee certain aspects of school policy.
One of the policy areas this group oversees is discipline and student safety, and suggestions included the LAUSD “revamping tardy policy to get students into building,” pushing “LAUSD for ‘lock down’ if ICE is on/near campus – shelter in place,” “engaging students in community self-defense – offer service learning hours,” keeping “students away from gates at lunch/recess,” and “patroling school sites depending on community.”
Defending Education.
Other notes suggested using professional development time to make “immigration kits.”
Last month, the Department of Homeland Security withdrew a Biden-era policy that stipulated that schools were off limits for immigration enforcement operations.
“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesman said on January 21.
