Federal authorities confirmed that agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted searches on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Los Angeles Unified School District as well as at the residence of Superintendent Alberto Carvalho.

According to federal officials, search warrants were executed at both the district’s downtown offices and Mr. Carvalho’s home. Court documents supporting the warrants have been sealed, and investigators declined to specify the focus of the inquiry.

Mr. Carvalho did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In a brief public statement, Los Angeles Unified acknowledged that federal agents were present at the superintendent’s residence and district headquarters and stated that the district was cooperating with authorities.

The Miami field office of the F.B.I., where Mr. Carvalho previously served as superintendent before relocating to California, said agents had also searched a property in Southwest Ranches, located in Broward County, Florida, as part of the broader investigation. While no address was disclosed, public property records indicate that Mr. Carvalho owns two properties in Broward County, though neither is situated in Southwest Ranches.

Within Los Angeles, the federal search at district headquarters reportedly focused on a portion of a single floor of the high-rise building that houses the superintendent’s executive offices. A district official familiar with the situation, who requested anonymity due to the legal sensitivity of the matter, said the activity was limited in scope.

Authorities have not publicly clarified the nature of the investigation. Los Angeles Unified serves approximately 400,000 students, making it the second-largest public school district in the United States and the largest in California. As superintendent, Mr. Carvalho occupies one of the most visible leadership roles in K–12 education nationwide, with an annual salary of $440,000.

Federal prosecutors had previously been examining the activities of AllHere, a technology startup that secured a $6 million contract with Los Angeles Unified to develop an artificial intelligence chatbot for students and families. The company later filed for bankruptcy in 2024. It remains unclear whether Wednesday’s searches are connected to that earlier inquiry.

The political context adds another layer of complexity. Relations between the Trump administration and California leaders have often been strained, particularly over policies involving diversity, equity, and inclusion. California’s Democratic officials, including leaders in Los Angeles, have frequently voiced opposition to federal initiatives they view as undermining those priorities.

The U.S. Justice Department recently joined a federal civil lawsuit challenging a long-standing desegregation program within Los Angeles Unified, alleging discrimination against white students. However, that case is civil rather than criminal in nature and would not typically involve search warrants targeting a superintendent’s home.

Mr. Carvalho has also clashed with federal authorities in the past over immigration enforcement on school campuses. In 2023, agents from Homeland Security Investigations were denied entry to two Los Angeles elementary schools where they said they were conducting welfare checks on undocumented students. At a nationally covered press conference, Mr. Carvalho sharply criticized the attempted enforcement actions.

A native of Portugal, Mr. Carvalho has spoken openly about his own immigration journey. After graduating from high school, he moved to New York and overstayed a visitor visa. During that period, he worked a variety of jobs, including in restaurants, agriculture, and construction, and experienced homelessness. After roughly two years, he obtained a student visa and legal status, later becoming a physics teacher. He is now a naturalized U.S. citizen.

The federal search of his home comes less than six months after another high-profile case involving a school leader. In that matter, Ian Roberts, the Guyana-born superintendent of the Des Moines school system, was arrested by federal authorities on allegations that he had been living and working in the United States without legal authorization.

Mr. Carvalho arrived in Los Angeles in 2022 after leading Miami-Dade County Public Schools for 14 years. He has been widely recognized as an advocate for immigrant students and underserved communities. Under his leadership, Los Angeles Unified has reported gains in standardized test performance and expanded participation in Advanced Placement coursework.

At the same time, his career has included moments of controversy. During his tenure in Miami, leaked emails suggested an inappropriate relationship with an education reporter. In 2018, he briefly accepted the position of chancellor of New York City’s public school system, the largest in the nation, only to reverse his decision in a dramatic public announcement.

In Los Angeles, questions have persisted regarding the district’s contracting practices, particularly in the area of educational technology. The AllHere agreement, approved in 2023, drew scrutiny after it became clear that the company had limited experience developing advanced artificial intelligence systems and that the chatbot platform experienced technical issues. The company filed for bankruptcy the following year, and its chief executive was later charged by federal authorities with fraud.

The investigation also unfolds amid tense labor negotiations. Unionized teachers within Los Angeles Unified have authorized a strike if ongoing contract talks fail to produce an agreement. Among their concerns is the district’s spending on outside technology vendors and consultants, which some educators argue diverts resources away from classrooms.

As of now, federal officials have not indicated whether any charges are forthcoming or whether the investigation directly involves the superintendent. The sealed court filings suggest that key details may remain undisclosed for the foreseeable future. For a district serving hundreds of thousands of students and employing tens of thousands of staff members, the developments mark a significant moment of uncertainty as both educators and families await further clarification.