Viral Video Claiming ICE Raided A Fifth-Grade Graduation Proven To Be ‘Outright Lie’

A Los Angeles school worker took to social media to tearfully spout rumors of an ICE raid at a nearby fifth-grade graduation ceremony. These rumors were proven completely false.

In his original post, the school worker, who goes by “Mr. Howie” on Instagram, claimed the Gratts Learning Academy for Young Scholars was hosting its graduation ceremony, when “all of a sudden, a bunch of parents have to run out because [ICE] is there.”

Los Angeles school worker shares frustration over parents having to leave their children’s graduation ceremony because ICE raided an elementary school’s graduation today pic.twitter.com/sMQR1KKAcy

— JaValle (@JaValle) June 7, 2025

“Parents had to run out because they don’t have papers, and they had to leave their kids because the kids do,” he tearfully lamented. “What type of s*** is this, yo! And then kids are freaking grabbing teachers and crying on their leg because they don’t know if they’re about to see their parents when they get home. What the f*** is this? And we voted for this s***?”

The video gained traction across social media, but despite its virality, X users were quick to add context to the clip — community notes beneath @JaValle’s post about the video say Mr. Howie is telling an “outright lie” and cited a Los Angeles Times fact check that stated “there was no confirmed threat to the Friday culmination at Gratts Elementary.”

Gift Dad an All Access Membership. Use code DAD40 at checkout to save 40%!

Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho also debunked the claims in a press conference on Monday, the Los Angeles Times reported.

“We’ve investigated it,” he said. “All the reports that came back was that no such event happened.”

Furthermore, LAUSD Region East posted on Instagram to claim the raid never took place.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by LAUSD Region East (@laschoolseast)

“We are aware of recent rumors circulating on social media regarding immigration enforcement activity at the 5th grade culmination ceremony at Gratts Learning Academy for Young Scholars on June 6, 2025,” the post states. “These claims are false.”

LAUSD then stated they remain committed to working with parents and teachers so they can “stay informed.”

“If any parent [or] guardian sees immigration enforcement activity, they may inform their school.”