More than 30 Southern California mayors, led by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, united on Wednesday to demand an immediate halt to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations across the region. The coordinated call comes as federal agents expand enforcement actions beyond downtown Los Angeles into multiple counties, sparking protests and community unrest.
At a press conference outside Los Angeles City Hall, Bass described how peaceful conditions across the region deteriorated following ICE raids targeting workplaces and residential areas. "When you tear parents and children apart and deploy armored vehicles through our streets, you\u2019re not promoting safety – you\u2019re manufacturing fear," Bass stated, directly linking the escalation to U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s political agenda.
According to Los Angeles Police Department reports, over 400 arrests have occurred since enforcement intensified six days ago. Recent incidents include federal agents ramming a civilian vehicle in Boyle Heights before extracting its driver at gunpoint – an event now under LAPD investigation as a potential hit-and-run.
The mayors\u2019 coalition also called for withdrawal of National Guard troops and Marines deployed to support operations. Federal prosecutors meanwhile filed serious charges against two individuals accused of attempting to attack law enforcement with Molotov cocktails during demonstrations.
With 330 immigrants reportedly detained since Friday and multiple communities organizing resistance networks, the standoff highlights growing tensions between local governments and federal immigration policies. As Bass emphasized: "This isn\u2019t about border security – it\u2019s about election-year theater that\u2019s tearing our social fabric."
