Docs: LA Teachers Union Plots ICE ‘Resistance’ In Schools

A Los Angeles teachers union wants to use public school resources to turn students into anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agitators, according to planning documents obtained by Defending Education.

The documents reveal that the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) is looking for ways to use taxpayer-funded public schools as a “form of resistance” against ICE, including “engaging students in community self-defense” through “service learning hours.”

“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,” Rhyen Staley, director of research at Defending Education, said in a press release. “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 documents show a slideshow called “preparing for ICE at your school,” as well as plans to use teacher professional development time to “make door hanger immigration kits: w/ pro bono lawyers, affidavits, [Know Your Rights], etc – distribute” and shell out school funds to “buy bullhorns, whistles.”

They want to create an anti-ICE surveillance state at schools as well, seeking to employ “security cameras to monitor” for ICE presence and create group chats — specifically naming the encrypted Signal app — to create an alert system to send out warnings when ICE is in the area.

Group chats, particularly those using Signal, have been prominent in anti-ICE agitation in Minneapolis and elsewhere, surging people to obstruct enforcement operations, put the lives of ICE agents at risk, and create chaotic and dangerous situations for city residents.

According to the documents, a “School Safety Plan” for “Responding to Immigration Enforcement” would start a chain of obstruction tactics should an ICE agent want to “interview [or] to detain a student or staff; or if a federal agency demands student information.”

While the assertion that ICE runs operations at schools is false, the teachers union still aims to trigger “UTLA Activation,” which would start teacher communication with a hierarchy of agitators and bring in “media to go to school.”

The “activation” plan also stipulates that if agents “use force,” teachers will employ “LARRN to respond and mobilize to the school for a rally-action. Surround the school with supporters. Media will be invited; media briefing as needed.” LARRN appears to refer to the Los Angeles Raids and Rapid Response Network.

The UTLA’s “preparing for ICE at your school” presentation uses propaganda phrases like “student kidnappings … that we know of,” and the union stated it would engage in “20 days of non-violent protest and action,” apparently in response to an ICE operation.

The organization would also purportedly use union negotiation “bargaining language” stating 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.”

According to the docs, teachers can hijack the Local School Leadership Council (LSLC) to serve as a “form of resistance.” The LSLC is a “shared decision-making body including elected parents or community members, and school personnel” — which has the requisite resources and policy enactment power that Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) teachers need to implement an anti-ICE regime.

Some ideas include “revamping tardy policy to get students into building,” getting LAUSD to go into “‘lock down’ if ICE is on/near campus,” “engaging students in community self-defense,” keeping “students away from gates at lunch/recess,” and “patroling [sic] school sites depending on community.”

Being able to control whether a school goes into “lock down” is a goal of many left-wing agitators. One agitator in Minneapolis told The Federalist that the city’s street patrols have that capability — though the veracity of that contention remains to be seen.

More ICE obstruction documents show using the “S.A.L.U.T.E” format:

Size/Strength: “5 to 6 law enforcement officers”

Actions/Activity: “harassing random people on the street”

Location/Direction: “Chicago, West of Millennium Park, on Michigan Ave”

Uniform/Clothes: “Dark Blue uniforms that say ‘Police ICE’ on the back”

Time and date of observation: “12:45 PM January 20”

Equipment and weapons: “They have helmets, vests and batons”

The presentation also included signs (seemingly for front office areas) claiming school spaces are “private workplace[s].” Apparently these are intended to serve as talismans to ward off law enforcement.

Breccan F. Thies is the White House correspondent for The Federalist. He is a co-recipient of the 2025 Dao Prize for Excellence in Investigative Journalism. As an investigative journalist, he previously covered education and culture issues for the Washington Examiner and Breitbart News. He holds a degree from the University of Virginia and is a 2022 Claremont Institute Publius Fellow. You can follow him on X: @BreccanFThies.