Mayor Karen Bass Defends Los Angeles Against Federal Overreach and ICE Raids
JUDJ-Prepared Summary from July 2, 2025 | Mayor Karen Bass on Federal Troops in L.A.: What Comes Next? The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the speaker.
In a recent America at a Crossroads discussion, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass spoke with veteran journalist Patt Morrison about the intensifying conflict between the City of Los Angeles and the Trump administration. Bass, the first woman and second African American elected mayor of Los Angeles, detailed her administration’s legal and humanitarian response to federal immigration crackdowns, National Guard deployments, and what she described as an unprecedented assault on the city’s autonomy and immigrant community. Drawing on her decades of experience in public service, including as Speaker of the California Assembly and a U.S. Congresswoman, Bass offered a clear-eyed view of what’s at stake for cities like Los Angeles in this escalating political confrontation.
A Legal and Moral Battle Over Sanctuary
Mayor Bass emphasized that the lawsuit filed by the Trump administration is an attempt to dismantle Los Angeles’ long-standing sanctuary city policies—particularly LAPD’s Special Order 40, which prevents officers from inquiring about immigration status. Originally established to protect immigrant victims and witnesses of crime, the policy is now being challenged as unconstitutional by federal authorities. “This is not just a legal fight,” Bass warned, “It’s a test of how far the federal government can push into local jurisdictions.”
While the Trump administration claims the city is obstructing federal immigration enforcement, Bass countered that her primary duty is to protect Angelenos, not enable unaccountable federal raids. “We are being used as a petri dish,” she said, “for a dangerous experiment with our democracy.”
Militarization Without Consent
One of the most alarming developments, according to Bass, has been the federal government’s decision to deploy the National Guard and even U.S. Marines in Los Angeles without state or local consent. “The governor didn’t request them. I didn’t request them,” Bass said. “And yet, we have masked men in unmarked vehicles detaining people without warrants.” The federal agents’ presence—ostensibly to protect ICE and federal buildings—has had chilling effects on public life, from graduations to neighborhood businesses.
Bass called attention to the erosion of democratic norms: “This is not just about immigration. This is about federal seizure of state authority and the suppression of peaceful dissent.”
Protecting LA’s Immigrant Communities
Bass shared troubling accounts of undocumented and even legal residents being detained in aggressive raids. In some cases, ICE officers have ambushed people at home, on the street, or at work—often without identification or warrants. “When someone is grabbed by six armed agents while selling fruit, it’s hard to believe this is about hardened criminals,” she said.
To respond, the city has mobilized legal aid networks, reactivated the Angeleno Card program to assist vulnerable families, and leaned on a four-decade infrastructure of immigrant rights organizations. Yet Bass noted that the anonymity of masked agents and lack of federal cooperation have made community protections difficult to enforce.
Fighting Back with Strategy and Solidarity
Bass outlined a multi-pronged response: legal action, ongoing negotiations with federal officials, and strong collaboration with other California mayors. Despite the pressure, she said, the city remains united. “This has not divided us—it has galvanized us. People from every walk of life are standing up for their neighbors.”
She also raised concerns about federal overreach into unrelated matters, such as ongoing investigations into the city’s handling of homelessness and even transit vandalism. “It feels like an all-out assault,” she said. “We’re being pressured from every direction, including absurd personal accusations.”
A Warning and a Call to Action
Mayor Bass concluded the conversation with a stark warning about the long-term consequences of unchecked federal authority—but also a message of resilience. “This is a dangerous time for local democracy,” she said. “But Los Angeles is not backing down.”
As LA prepares to host global events like the World Cup and Olympics, Bass affirmed her commitment to defending the city’s values: inclusion, safety, and the rule of law.
About America at a Crossroads
Since April 2020, America at a Crossroads has produced weekly virtual programs on topics related to the preservation of our democracy, voting rights, freedom of the press, and a wide array of civil rights, including abortion rights, free speech, and free press. America at a Crossroads is a project of Jews United for Democracy & Justice.