LOS ANGELES — Mayor Karen Bass today joined the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) and the Los Angeles Rapid Response Network (LARRN) to stand with immigrant families and highlight resources to protect Angelenos amid reports that the Trump administration has launched a 45-day immigration enforcement surge in California. As families face renewed fear and uncertainty, Mayor Bass reaffirmed that the City will continue to defend immigrant rights, protect families, and ensure all Angelenos know their rights and have access to trusted resources and support.
Federal officials have described the operations as targeting the “worst of the worst” under “Operation Safe California.” However, the announcement has raised concerns about arrests of undocumented immigrants with no criminal record and potential racial profiling, echoing concerns from the federal immigration raids that began in Los Angeles on June 6, 2025. The announcement has left immigrant families, workers and small business owners worried about what comes next. Across Los Angeles, entire communities are living in fear, with parents and workers worried they may not be able to go to work, take their children to school, or carry out daily routines without knowing whether they will make it home to their families.
“No family should have to live in fear or face these challenges alone,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “Los Angeles will continue to stand with and protect our immigrant communities, defend their rights, and make sure families know where to turn for help. We are not powerless. We will not abandon our neighbors or let fear divide us. We will continue working with our community partners to protect our people.”
Mayor Bass stood alongside immigrant rights advocates and community organizations to emphasize that families must have access to accurate information, understand their rights, and know where to turn for help. Through Executive Directive 12, the Mayor established citywide protections and resources for immigrant communities. This united effort highlights the importance of community preparedness and strong partnerships to ensure no resident has to face immigration enforcement alone. Above all, the Mayor emphasized the need for communities to remain especially vigilant and prepared in the coming weeks.
As federal immigration enforcement threats continue in the days leading up to a major election, Mayor Bass emphasized that fear must not silence our communities or keep eligible voters from exercising their right to vote. She urged Angelenos to stay informed, stand together, and make their voices heard by mailing in their ballots early or using official ballot drop boxes available in their communities.
“Families should never have to live in fear because of their immigration status. As federal enforcement increases, our responsibility is to make sure our communities have the information, resources and support they need to protect themselves and their loved ones. We must stand together, look out for our neighbors and make clear that Los Angeles will not turn its back on immigrant families,” said Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez.
“In moments like these, our Rapid Response Network plays a critical role in making sure immigrant communities are not left to face immigration operations alone. Together, we mobilize, document what is happening on the ground when it is safe to do so, connect families with trusted resources and help people understand their rights. The Trump administration may call this a targeted operation, but our responsibility is to remain vigilant, support our communities and ensure that families have the information and support they need to respond and stay together,” said Angelica Salas, Executive Director, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA).
“When ICE agents show up in our communities, the fear doesn’t stop with the people they detain. It spreads to entire families, keeping workers from going to work, parents from taking their children to school, and people from accessing the services they need. Immigrant workers are the backbone of our communities and our economy. They deserve to live without fear, to be treated with dignity, and to have their rights protected. No one should have to choose between providing for their family and feeling safe in their own community,” said Meagan Ortiz, Executive Director of IDEPSCA.
“The administration’s claim that it is targeting the ‘worst of the worst’ does not diminish the need to protect everyone’s constitutional rights,” said Lindsay of the Immigrant Defenders Law Center. “As ICE activity increases in our communities, access to legal representation and accurate information becomes even more critical. Every person detained deserves due process, access to an attorney, and a meaningful opportunity to challenge their detention. No one should be left to navigate the immigration system without understanding their rights or having the opportunity to defend themselves.”
“Our immigrant communities are not a threat to this country — they are an essential part of its strength, its workforce and its future. No family should have to live in hiding, no worker should have to fear being separated from their children, and no community should be terrorized for who they are or where they come from. We will not allow fear to define our communities or strip our neighbors of their dignity. We must stand united and demand that every person’s rights be respected,” said Martha Arévalo, Executive Director of CARECEN.
This united effort comes as Los Angeles continues to respond to the lasting effects of the federal immigration raids that began in June 2025. Those operations devastated families, disrupted local businesses, and left many residents afraid to go to work, take their children to school or access essential services.
In response, Mayor Bass issued Executive Directive 12, Standing United: A Proud City of Immigrants, to strengthen City efforts to support immigrant communities, coordinate with community organizations, and connect residents with information and services. Her administration also worked with philanthropic and private sector partners to mobilize $1.7 million in immediate financial relief for families affected by the raids.
As federal enforcement escalated, Mayor Bass issued Executive Directive 17 to expand protections for Angelenos and establish additional safeguards. On September 30, 2026, Mayor Bass signed an ordinance codifying key protections from ED 17 into City law, making these safeguards a lasting part of how Los Angeles protects its residents. The ordinance prohibits the use of City-owned properties as staging areas, processing locations, or bases of operations for federal immigration enforcement. It also requires signs at certain City-owned properties, measures to secure nonpublic areas of City facilities against unauthorized access by federal agents, and greater transparency from City contractors regarding agreements to share data with federal immigration agencies.
Mayor Bass has continued working alongside immigrant-serving organizations, community leaders, and advocates to ensure families have access to trusted resources and that City policies protect residents while strengthening trust between local government and the communities it serves.
The City of Los Angeles will continue working with community partners to ensure immigrant families know their rights, can access reliable information and have support when they need it most.
Residents seeking information and assistance are encouraged to visit this Mayor's Office website for information and resources and connect with rapid response networks, including CHIRLA, LA TACO, Unión del Barrio and ImmDef, to access legal resources, trusted information, and support when immigration enforcement activity occurs.
Angelenos who need assistance can contact the following hotlines:
LA Rapid Response Network (LARRN): 888-624-4752
Immigrant Defenders Legal Resource Hotline: 213-833-8283