Federal agents gathered on the streets near MacArthur Park in the West Lake area of Los Angeles on Monday before leaving the area with armored vehicles, SUVs and vans.
Details about why Tactical Gear agents were in the park west of downtown Los Angeles were not available immediately. At least 100 federal agents were seen on nearby streets, including U.S. Border Patrol and other law enforcement officials from armored vehicles, witnesses told NBCLA.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was easily seen on the site among many people, including a handful of protesters with signs. The bass seemed to enter the vehicle leaving the area.
She was asked by a reporter what the city is trying to do about the existence of federal law enforcement in the park.
“You wait and see,” Bus said. “They will leave soon.”
In a post after X, Bass referenced a video that appears to show federal agents walking in the queue across the park’s soccer field. Some of the law enforcement officers were on horseback.
“This is footage from MacArthur Park starting today,” Bass said. “A few minutes ago, over 20 kids were playing, and then the troops came.
“The second thing I’ve heard about this is that I went to the park and spoke to the person in charge and told them I needed to finish it right now. It’s absolutely outrageous.”
This is a video from MacArthur Park starting today.
A few minutes ago, over 20 children were playing. After that, the army comes.
Second I heard about this, I went to the park and talked to the person in charge and told them I needed to finish it right now.
It’s definitely outrageous. pic.twitter.com/sxgzjglylr
– Mayor Karen Bass (@mayorofla) July 7, 2025
Bass was scheduled to join Gov. Gavin Newsom at a press conference late Monday morning in Pasadena about the recovery process following wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
It was not immediately clear whether anyone had been detained or not. Agents left the area as the small crowd grew in size and some people moved slowly from the neighborhood, leaving some people walking behind the armored vehicles.
The NBCLA contacted federal authorities for further details.
The law enforcement efforts come after weeks of immigration enforcement efforts in Los Angeles that led to protests in the downtown area. The attacks and operations take place in car washes, home improvement stores parking, other businesses and residential areas.
Last week, the Trump administration filed a lawsuit alleging that LA was obstructing immigration enforcement through its sanctuary city policy. Bass said the city will continue to defend its policies and ordinances.
The majority of the resulting protests were in parts of downtown Los Angeles, near the federal building that includes the federal detention center. Marines and federal national security forces were sent to LA by the Trump administration over objections from state and local leaders, and remained primarily on federal property.
