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Mayor Bass signs an executive directive

Mayor Bass Issues Executive Directive to Support Immigrant Communities

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The Directive Bolsters City Protocols That Prohibit Use of City Resources for Immigration Enforcement, Expands Access to Resources For Impacted Families, Establishes New LAPD Working Group And Seeks Records From Federal Agencies About Unlawful Raids

LOS ANGELES – Mayor Karen Bass 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, establishes an LAPD working group and expands access to resources for impacted families. The order also seeks records from the federal government on unlawful raids from federal agencies.

“We are a proud city of immigrants, and with the Trump Administration signaling that they will ratchet up their chaotic approach, I’m making sure we deploy every resource and tool available within the City to ensure that we are supporting immigrant communities,” said Mayor Bass. “We will continue pursuing legal relief through the courts, and I am issuing orders to all General Managers to bolster their response and support for immigrant communities. I will never accept these unlawful and chaotic raids and will continue to do all that I can to defend the rights of the people of Los Angeles.”

Earlier this week, Mayor Bass announced that the City is taking the Trump Administration to court to put a stop to the unconstitutional, reckless raids in the LA region. This comes after federal agents marched through MacArthur Park, and militarized vehicles were deployed to the streets as children were attending a summer camp with the seemingly sole purpose of bringing fear to Los Angeles. The Executive Directive Mayor Bass issued today includes the following directions:

  • Requires all departments to bolster protocols and training in compliance with the City’s law prohibiting use of City resources in immigration enforcement and deliver preparedness plans within 2 weeks.
  • Establishes a working group with LAPD, Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, immigrant rights organizations and community leaders to gather feedback in order to inform additional guidance for police officers when responding to immigration enforcement activities. 
  • Seeks key records from the federal government including reasons for detained individuals’ arrests during unlawful raids and associated costs of the federal activity.
  • Expands access to resources from City Departments to immigrant families by leveraging each department’s designated Immigrant Affairs Liaison. 

Read the executive directive here:

 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTIVE NO. 12 

Issue Date: July 11, 2025 

 

Subject: Standing United – A Proud City of Immigrants

INTRODUCTION

The City of Los Angeles remains steadfast in its commitment to uphold the dignity, safety and constitutional rights of all City of Los Angeles residents, regardless of their immigration status. In 1979, the Los Angeles Police Department issued Special Order 40, which prohibits officers from initiating police action solely to determine someone’s immigration status. This policy is still in effect today as embodied in the LAPD Police Manual. In December 2024, the City further codified protections for the immigrant community by passing Ordinance 188441, which prohibits the use of any City resources, personnel, property and data to support federal immigration enforcement. This ordinance, entitled “Prohibition of the Use of City Resources for Federal Immigration Enforcement”, is codified at Los Angeles Administrative Code (LAAC) Section 19.190 et seq. (the “City’s Ordinance”). In February 2025, guidance was given to all City departments regarding adherence to the City’s Ordinance in advance of any potential United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement activities. The City’s Ordinance complies with and complements California’s Fair Values Act.

Last month, ICE initiated large-scale immigration enforcement operations across Los Angeles. These operations have heightened fears, torn apart families, disrupted the immigrant community, and interfered with businesses and day to day life across the city. These enforcement actions have deterred City residents from attending school and church, seeking city services, accessing healthcare, and going to work. The City has a responsibility to ensure the safety of all residents, and City departments play a critical role in providing services to support residents and their needs. 

 To that end, I hereby direct all City Departments to:

  1. Develop and implement a preparedness plan, including Department-specific protocols and training, to ensure that all City employees know how to abide by the City’s Ordinance and know how to respond to federal immigration enforcement activities on City properties or facilities based on guidance from the City Attorney’s Office. 
  2. Work with City contractors to ensure their employees working on City properties or in City facilities know how to abide by the City’s Ordinance and respond to federal enforcement activities. 
  3. Under Executive Directive 20 (Garcetti, March 21, 2017) each General Manager or Head of Department was required to designate an Immigrant Affairs Liaison. The Immigrant Affairs Liaison for each department is hereby directed to report any federal immigration enforcement activity on City properties or facilities.
  4. Recommend services or programs that can support families impacted by federal immigrant enforcement actions. These recommendations should be informed by a thorough review of existing City services and programs and how they can be leveraged to increase the safety of Angelenos harmed by federal immigrant enforcement actions. 
  5. Disseminate information on City services and assistance programs for families impacted by federal enforcement actions through Spanish and other language media. 
  6. Submit the above information and plan within 2 weeks after the issuance of this Executive Directive to the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.

Furthermore, I hereby direct my Office to transmit a federal Freedom of Information Act request to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in order to obtain records regarding the dates and locations of all enforcement activities in Los Angeles, the identities of individuals and reason(s) they were arrested or detained, and policies governing both federal officers’ use of badges and other forms of identification as well as masks and other methods that obscure identification.

Furthermore, I hereby direct the Information Technology Agency to provide 311 with Know Your Rights information covering the basic legal rights of individuals regardless of status and ways to connect residents with City Departments that offer services, information or training. 

Furthermore, I hereby establish a working group, to be led by the Los Angeles Police Department, in collaboration with the Police Commission and Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, to work with immigrant rights organizations and community leaders to solicit feedback on federal enforcement actions and the City’s response. Additionally, I hereby request the Police Commission, in collaboration with the Chief of Police, to incorporate, where appropriate, the community feedback and provide additional guidance to police officers on how to respond to situations involving federal immigration enforcement. While the LAPD Police Manual provides guidance on how police officers should respond to immigration enforcement activities, and the Chief of Police recently issued a notice to officers with additional guidance, ongoing comprehensive review and guidance is critical in light of the federal government’s unprecedented tactics used to conduct enforcement.

Executed this 11th day of July, 2025

_____________________________

KAREN BASS

Mayor