Federal authorities have executed search warrants at the residence and district office of Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), as part of an ongoing investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
According to federal officials, agents carried out “court-authorized search warrants” at Carvalho’s home in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles and at LAUSD headquarters in downtown Los Angeles on February 25.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed the specific focus of the investigation, and the supporting affidavits remain under seal. An FBI spokesperson confirmed the activity but declined to provide additional details, citing the integrity of the investigation.
In a brief statement, LAUSD said the district “is fully cooperating with federal authorities” and emphasized its commitment to transparency and accountability. The statement further noted that district operations and school activities continue uninterrupted.
Carvalho, a Portuguese-American educator who has led LAUSD since 2022, has not been formally charged with any wrongdoing. It remains unclear whether he is a target of the probe or whether the investigation centers on broader district matters.
Carvalho previously served for more than a decade as superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools before assuming leadership of LAUSD, the second-largest public school district in the United States. His tenure in Los Angeles has been marked by major initiatives in academic recovery, student services, and technology modernization. Reports indicate that federal investigators may be examining aspects of a prior district technology contract, though officials have not confirmed the scope of the inquiry.
Community leaders and education advocates are closely monitoring developments. “We expect a fair and transparent process,” one district official said, underscoring the importance of due process and continuity for the district’s more than 500,000 students.
In July 2025, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) signed its first-ever Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Portugal based Camões Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua to introduce Portuguese language education in public schools across the district.
Alberto Carvalho, who has been vocal against the ongoing immigration raids in the country, especially in Minnesota, California, and Maine, among others, has called ICE’s actions “despicable.”
Appearing on Los Angeles Eyewitness Newsmakers, he said that school district staff members are trained in what to do, saying that if approached by anyone without a signed judicial warrant, LAUSD does not provide information about the immigration status of students or parents, citing federal law that protects their confidentiality rights.
PAJ/Staff/This developing story will be updated as additional information becomes available
Alberto M. Carvalho, 58, of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), was born in 1965 in Lisbon. At the age of 17, Carvalho immigrated to the United States, undocumented and alone. Speaking limited English, he worked a series of low-wage jobs—including construction and dishwashing—and experienced homelessness. Nevertheless, he became the first in his family to complete high school, setting the foundation for a lifelong commitment to education. He later earned a scholarship to attend Broward College and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology from Barry University in 1990.
Carvalho has consistently championed opportunity and equity in public schools. His Portuguese heritage has played a significant role in shaping his global perspective, particularly his support for world language programs, including the recent effort to introduce Portuguese in LAUSD through a formal partnership with Portugal’s Camões Institute. His life story continues to inspire students and educators alike across the United States.
He has received many awards and distinctions. In 2012, he was honored with the “Ordem de Mérito Civil” by the President of Portugal, Aníbal Cavaco Silva. The “Ordem de Mérito Civil “is the equivalent of the Presidential Medal of Honor in the United States.
In 2014, he was honored by President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan at a White House ceremony during the National Teacher of the Year announcement.
Other honors include the Hispanic Heritage Education Award and the 2013 National Child Labor Committee Ron H. Brown Award; he has been acknowledged as Visionary Leader of the Year by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and South Florida’s Ultimate CEO; and he has been recognized for Leadership in Government by the Miami Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. He is a member of Florida’s Council of 100 and the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels. Mexico awarded him the “Othli Award,” the highest award for a civilian living outside of Mexico. More @ Portuguese American Journal
