FBI Searches Los Angeles Schools Chief’s Home and District Headquarters: Alberto Carvalho Under Federal Inquiry
Federal agents served search warrants Wednesday at Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters and at the San Pedro home of superintendent alberto carvalho, actions that officials say are part of a federal investigation whose nature was not immediately clear.
Warrants served at three locations
The searches included the LA district’s downtown headquarters, Carvalho’s residence in the San Pedro neighborhood about 20 miles south of downtown LA, and a third location near Miami where Carvalho previously led public schools. TV news footage showed agents in FBI shirts and jackets outside the San Pedro home, while there was no visible sign of agents outside the LA district’s headquarters as of mid-morning.
FBI confirmation and sealed affidavits
Rukelt Dalberis, a spokesperson for the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, confirmed that agents were at the properties to serve warrants but declined further comment, saying the affidavits laying out details for the basis for the searches were under seal. The district issued a statement that it “is cooperating with the investigation and we do not have further information at this time. ”
Search in Broward County cleared by agents
James Marshall, an FBI spokesman in Miami, said agents searched a residence in Southwest Ranches on Wednesday morning and “have since cleared the scene. ” Southwest Ranches is in Broward County, west of Fort Lauderdale; Marshall said no further information was available.
Alberto Carvalho’s record and background
Carvalho led Miami-Dade County Public Schools from 2008 to 2021, during which time he was credited with improving graduation rates and academic performance and was named Superintendent of the Year in 2014. The Portugal-born administrator was knighted by Spain in 2021 for his work expanding Spanish-language programs for Miami-Dade County schools.
Carvalho’s stance on immigration enforcement in California
In California, Carvalho has been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement, pressing immigration authorities last year to avoid enforcement activity near campuses. When the district’s roughly 500, 000 students returned to classes in the fall, he urged that immigration authorities not conduct enforcement within a two-block radius of schools.
Local officials and other reactions
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s office said it had no information about the searches, noting the public school system operates independently of city government. Officials with the Miami-Dade school system did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment on whether federal agencies have contacted them regarding Carvalho.
Wednesday’s search marked the second time in a week the Justice Department has taken action involving the LA Unified district; on Feb. 19, the Trump administration joined a lawsuit alleging the district discriminates against white students under its decades-old desegregation policy.
Tucker, in Washington, contributed to the coverage. Freida Frisaro in Fort Lauderdale and Julie Watson in San Diego also contributed to the report. 300 W. 31st Ave. Anchorage, Alaska, 99503
Officials have not announced additional public steps; the district says it is cooperating and federal spokesmen have declined to release further details while affidavits remain under seal.
