Mayor Karen Bass Responds to Justice Department Lawsuit
Mayor Karen Bass has pushed back against the Justice Department’s lawsuit directed at Los Angeles, framing it as part of President Trump’s ongoing attacks against the city. During a press conference at City Hall, she expressed confidence that the city’s sanctuary policy, which prevents local resources from aiding federal immigration enforcement, would withstand such legal threats.
She criticized federal agents for “randomly grabbing people,” emphasizing that those arrested often include hard-working immigrants merely going about their daily lives. Her comments included a pointed critique of Stephen Miller, a key figure in the Trump administration known for advocating stringent immigration policies.
“It’s indiscriminate; we know U.S. citizens are being caught up in this,” Bass remarked, referring to the large-scale detentions that the administration aims for, reportedly about 3,000 individuals daily.
This situation escalated after recent federal raids in Southern California, which sparked protests throughout Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Bass’s remarks come just after the Justice Department claimed that LA’s sanctuary policies were hindering their efforts to address what they term as an “illegal immigration crisis.”
The lawsuit argues that local leaders are obstructing the will of the public, claiming Trump was elected on a platform that involved deporting millions. The DOJ further suggested that LA’s non-cooperation with federal authorities contributed to “lawlessness” amid anti-ICE demonstrations.
In response, White House spokesman Abigail Jackson characterized Bass’s comments as misguided. She stated that Bass should express gratitude to Trump for allegedly removing dangerous offenders from Los Angeles streets. Jackson added that allegedly, inflammatory rhetoric from Bass and others has led to a dramatic rise in assaults against ICE officers.
Local leaders from various communities, including Los Angeles and Pasadena, have condemned the situation, arguing it disrupts families and public life. Some have even canceled July 4th celebrations out of fear of potential ICE raids.
Interestingly, even some Trump supporters are voicing concerns about the impact of these immigration crackdowns. Last week, six Republican state legislators sent a letter to Trump urging him to narrow his focus to violent criminals instead, asserting that the current tactics have caused significant alarm and driven workers away from essential sectors.
Data from Immigration Customs Enforcement indicates that from June 1 to 10, 722 individuals were arrested in the Los Angeles area. Notably, around 69% of these individuals had no prior criminal convictions, and 58% were never charged with any crime.
Los Angeles’s Sanctuary Ordinance prohibits city employees from inquiring about anyone’s citizenship or immigration status unless absolutely necessary for city services, and mandates that related information remain confidential.
Since sanctuary policies were introduced, Trump has made various attempts to challenge them. For instance, a federal challenge to California’s Senate Bill 54, which supports these policies, was rejected by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2019, and the Supreme Court declined to hear it the following year.
City Councilman Tim Makosker, who has experience in the city’s legal office, sees Trump’s lawsuit as more of a publicity stunt, saying, “There’s over a century of legal precedent supporting our position.”
