Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faced backlash on social media and from conservative figures in the Trump administration after she criticized ICE raids targeting immigrant communities. Her comments drew criticism for undermining federal immigration enforcement and for not addressing the city’s previous wildfire crisis, with some suggesting she prioritizes illegal immigrants over American citizens.
Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass encountered significant pushback on social media on Friday when she expressed frustration over federal immigration enforcement actions. Her response, which generated over two million impressions on X, was met with sharp criticism from conservative officials, including White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who accused her of undermining federal law and failing to grasp the basics of federalism. The situation escalated as protests and clashes between federal agents and demonstrators emerged, drawing further criticism from conservative lawmakers and officials.
The controversy intensified as federal agents conducted raids in multiple locations, including two Home Depot stores and a doughnut shop, with immigration advocates reporting at least 45 arrests. Videos of the operations taken by bystanders and TV news crews showed people being escorted across a Home Depot parking lot by federal agents, as well as clashes between protesters and federal agents at detention sites. As the protests grew on Friday evening, law enforcement officers in riot gear were called in to calm the crowds, and Bass drew even more online criticism from users accusing her of stirring up protesters.
Fox News Digital reached out to the mayor’s office for comment, while the Los Angeles Police Department issued a statement affirming its commitment to public safety without participating in immigration enforcement. The LAPD’s refusal to involve itself in deportations or immigration matters drew further criticism, including from Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, who called for an end to violence against federal law enforcement agents. The situation has sparked a broader debate over the role of local governments in addressing federal immigration issues and the public’s response to such enforcement actions.