Union leaders denounce troop deployment and defend students’ rights as clashes intensify following federal immigration raids
LOS ANGELES — The president of the National Education Association (NEA), Becky Pringle, took a public stand Monday in defense of immigrant families and their children, declaring that “all of us have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of justice” during a protest rally in downtown Los Angeles. Her comments came as the city grappled with escalating unrest sparked by a wave of federal immigration enforcement operations that began Friday.
The protests, now in their fourth consecutive day, have led to clashes with law enforcement, deployment of the National Guard, and sharp criticism from civic leaders and educators. Demonstrators have gathered at various city sites, including the Los Angeles Police Department’s downtown headquarters, where windows were struck and tear gas was deployed Monday to disperse crowds.
Timeline of Events and Statements
Federal agents began conducting immigration raids across Los Angeles on Friday, reigniting tensions around longstanding debates on immigration policy. Over the weekend, footage circulated of protesters burning U.S. flags and chanting anti-Trump slogans, while others raised flags of Latin American countries in solidarity with immigrant communities.
On Sunday, President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Southern California, with 300 reportedly arriving by Monday morning. In a statement, the administration defended the move as a necessary response to growing unrest and “threats to federal agents.”
But educators and civil rights leaders have pushed back.
Becky Pringle, head of the NEA—the nation’s largest teachers’ union—called the enforcement actions a direct threat to vulnerable students and families. In January, the NEA released guidance for schools on how to respond if immigration officers enter educational institutions, following Trump’s rollback of Obama-era protections that kept Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) out of so-called “sensitive locations,” including schools and hospitals.
“Tragically, for our nation, the incoming Trump administration is committed to a mass deportation agenda that will inflict irreversible harm on our students, their families, and communities,” Pringle said earlier this year.
On Monday, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) president Randi Weingarten issued a sharp rebuke of the federal response, calling the troop deployment “an illegal, heavy-handed, and unnecessary crackdown.”
“This is a trumped-up excuse to manufacture a spectacle and stoke further tensions,” Weingarten said in a public statement. “Instead of de-escalating, the administration seems intent on provoking and scapegoating hardworking immigrants.”
Legal and Civic Concerns
Civil liberties organizations, including the ACLU of Southern California, have raised alarms about the chilling effect of law enforcement presence near schools and public buildings. Legal observers noted that deploying military forces against protesters raises constitutional concerns, particularly around the First Amendment rights to assembly and free speech, and the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits federal military involvement in domestic law enforcement.
Public education advocates argue that these actions could disrupt the school environment, particularly for students from mixed-status households who may fear attending class or engaging in public spaces.
“Our schools must remain safe havens for all children,” said Gloria Martinez, president of United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA). “Federal actions that spark fear only erode trust and safety in the classroom.”
Community Impact and Escalating Tensions
In the latest round of demonstrations, video shows masked demonstrators forming a circle to burn an American flag, while others surrounded LAPD headquarters, some allegedly throwing projectiles and lighting fires. In response, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department deployed flash bangs and riot control teams to clear protesters from the streets.
Some local leaders, including members of the Los Angeles City Council, have urged calm and called for federal authorities to cease immigration operations that disrupt neighborhoods and workplaces without warrants or transparency.
Closing Thoughts
As Los Angeles remains at the epicenter of a renewed national debate over immigration and protest rights, educators, civic leaders, and immigrant families continue to demand accountability and protection.
Were you affected by the recent enforcement actions or protests in Los Angeles? Do you support or oppose the use of military personnel to address demonstrations? Share your story or opinion in the comments.
