LA Mayor Blames Trump’s ICE Raids for Recent Riots, Maintains ‘Calm’
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has publicly blamed the Trump administration’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids for sparking recent riots in the city, while insisting that “things in L.A. are calm” following the violence and the deployment of the National Guard. The unrest, which included clashes between protesters and federal agents, led to the deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles County, with the chaos centered in Paramount, California. Bass stated that without the raids, the widespread disorder would not have occurred, emphasizing that the city was previously peaceful.
Bass further accused the Trump administration of unnecessarily escalating tensions, particularly in a city with a history of immigrant activism. She called the raids “a recipe for pandemonium,” suggesting that the government’s enforcement of immigration law incites protests. While she urged accountability for rioters, she maintained that the root of the issue lies with the federal raids. In contrast, LAPD Police Chief Jim McDonnell expressed frustration over the violence, and Bass claimed that the city’s law enforcement is working with state and federal agencies to stabilize the situation. Despite her criticisms of the White House, Bass reiterated her commitment to maintaining order in Los Angeles.