Federal agents raided Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters and Superintendent Alberto Carvalho’s home on February 25, 2026, in a dramatic escalation that came days after the Justice Department joined a lawsuit alleging the district discriminates against white students in its education programs.

Coordinated Federal Searches Across Multiple States

FBI and Department of Justice agents searched Carvalho’s office at LAUSD headquarters in downtown Los Angeles on, evacuating employees from portions of the building during the operation. Federal officials simultaneously entered Carvalho’s residence in San Pedro, approximately 25 miles south of downtown, with agents observed removing boxes from the property. The FBI’s Miami office also searched a home in Southwest Ranches, Florida, linked to Carvalho’s previous role as head of Miami-Dade County Public Schools before his Los Angeles appointment.

LAUSD released a statement confirming awareness of the law enforcement activity and pledging full cooperation with the investigation. The FBI has not disclosed the nature or scope of the inquiry, and no charges have been filed against Carvalho or other district officials. An FBI spokesperson in Miami confirmed agents completed their search but declined to provide additional information about the investigation’s focus.

Justice Department Joins Discrimination Lawsuit

The raids follow the Trump administration’s recent decision to join a lawsuit against LAUSD alleging racial discrimination. The case centers on district programs designed to assist disadvantaged students of color through reduced classroom sizes while excluding campuses with higher white student populations. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that treating Americans equally represents a core constitutional guarantee that educational institutions must uphold. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon criticized the district for providing race-based benefits that treat students as having learning disabilities based solely on racial classification.

Political Tensions and Immigration Enforcement

Carvalho has maintained a vocal stance against President Donald Trump’s policies, particularly regarding immigration enforcement in schools. Last year, Homeland Security agents were denied access to two Los Angeles public elementary schools when attempting welfare checks on migrant children. The timing of the federal raids, occurring shortly after the Justice Department entered the discrimination lawsuit, raises questions about potential connections between the investigations. Federal authorities have not confirmed whether the searches relate to the ongoing civil rights case, administrative matters, or separate criminal inquiries involving district operations.