LOS ANGELES – Today, Mayor Karen Bass joined local leaders and community members on the Westside of L.A. to continue calls to end the discriminatory and reckless raids happening throughout Los Angeles. The administration’s chaotic escalation of its tactics are impacting every community in LA. Despite these efforts, Angelenos remain united as a proud city of immigrants.
“Angelenos from across Los Angeles stand united with a clear message to this administration – end these discriminatory and reckless raids now,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “Every part of the City has felt the impact of these raids and our local economy has taken a major blow because of it. By standing together, we have won clear victories in the courts that have shown that these raids are unconstitutional and we will continue to hold this administration accountable.”
"These raids are not isolated to one part of our city. They affect all of us," said Councilwoman Yaroslavsky. "Los Angeles has been clear eyed about what is happening from day one, and has taken every action available to us to stop them and protect our communities. This has always been a city of immigrants, of dreamers, of people building better futures. We will not allow fear to undo that promise."
Mayor Bass and Councilwoman Yaroslavsky were joined by women leaders, lawyers, members of One LA, faith leaders including prominent Westside rabbis, civic leaders and Westside community members. From businesses experiencing major financial setbacks, families missing critical doctors appointments to students being pulled from school, these raids have struck fear into the hearts and minds of residents across the city. Despite this, Mayor Bass and Angelenos across L.A. have refused to accept these dangerous tactics as a new normal. Mayor Bass has been on the frontline since the beginning of these raids standing with immigrant communities and ensuring the City of Los Angeles protecting the rights of every Angeleno.
Since the beginning of these reckless raids, Mayor Bass has:
- Signed an executive directive to support Los Angeles’ immigrant communities in the wake of unlawful raids conducted by the federal government. She has instructed City Departments to bolster their protocols and training to prepare for federal immigration activity occurring on City property, establish an LAPD working group and expand access to resources for impacted families. The order also seeks records from the federal government on unlawful raids from federal agencies.
- Taken legal action to put a stop to the unconstitutional reckless raids in the LA region in coordination with LA City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto and regional Mayors in Los Angeles County. This resulted in a temporary restraining order by a federal judge, which was upheld by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The Administration is now seeking to have the Supreme Court overturn these decisions.
- Met with children who had to leave MacArthur Park because of a military-style operation designed to strike fear.
- Visited businesses in Boyle Heights, Westlake, Pico-Union and Little Tokyo that have been economically impacted by this assault on Los Angeles.
- Organized Angelenos, community leaders and elected officials for Shine LA to revitalize areas vandalized by the individuals that took advantage of the chaos created by the federal government.
- Led more than one hundred labor, business and community leaders and immigrant rights groups calling for an end to immigration raids.
- Hosted webinars to make resources and information available to impacted businesses.
- Met with the Consul General of Mexico in Los Angeles and the Mayor of Morelia to find ways to work together in support of Angelenos who have been impacted by the reckless raids.