Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stood with civic leaders and advocates on Thursday to voice strong criticism of the federal government’s handling of recent anti-ICE protests in the city. With police sirens echoing in the background, she defended Los Angeles against claims made by the Trump administration that the city was engulfed in chaos and violence.
Bass addressed the media, asserting that the portrayal of Los Angeles as a "city of mayhem" was false. "To characterize what is going on in our city as a city of mayhem is just an outright lie," she stated, directly countering remarks made earlier by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. She expressed her disbelief at Noem’s comments, saying, "I do not recognize you. I do not know the Kristi Noem that I served with."
Noem had suggested that the Trump administration aimed to "liberate the city from the socialists and the burdensome leadership" of Bass and California’s governor. This came amid ongoing protests triggered by recent ICE raids across the region, which have sparked widespread unrest.
The mayor also condemned the detention of Senator Alex Padilla, who was forcibly removed from Noem’s press conference after attempting to ask questions. Bass questioned how federal agents could not recognize a sitting senator, highlighting the absurdity of the situation. "They just shoved and cuffed a sitting U.S. senator. How could you say you did not know who he was?" she asked.
The press conference was a response to the protests that have erupted in downtown Los Angeles over the past week, as ICE agents have conducted raids in workplaces, schools, and courthouses. Bass has been working to manage the protests while also addressing incidents of vandalism and violence in the area.
During her remarks, Bass reiterated her call for the president to withdraw the National Guard and U.S. Marines from the city and to halt the ICE raids. She also extended a curfew for downtown Los Angeles from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. to help maintain order as law enforcement works to clear out protesters.
Angelica Salas, the executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, joined Bass at the press conference. She spoke about the pain caused by the ICE actions, emphasizing the suffering of families affected by the raids. "What has been brought to our city has been racial profiling in a way that I have never experienced it in my career," Salas said.
The ongoing situation reflects a broader conflict over immigration policies and local governance, as Bass and her supporters aim to protect the rights of immigrants in the face of federal actions that they view as harmful and unjust. The protests and the city’s response highlight the tensions between local leaders and the federal government during this contentious period.