Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced a new executive directive on Friday to support the city’s immigrant community as the attacks continue throughout LA.
Since early June, dozens of immigrant raids have been carried out across Southern California as part of a massive deportation plan promised by the Trump administration.
Over 55,000 immigrants across the country have gained ice custody over the past six months, according to data compiled by NBC News. Approximately 28% have been criminally convicted, and about 25% have been pending criminal charges. Approximately 47% were listed as “other immigrant violators.”
Bass says these attacks are instilling fear in the community and must be stopped.
According to a press release from Mayor Bass’ office, the new directive will bolster city protocols that will prohibit the use of urban resources for immigration enforcement, expand access to resources for affected families, establish new LAPD working groups, and prohibit seeking records from federal agencies regarding illegal raids.
“We are a proud city of immigrants and signal the Trump administration to ratchet their chaotic approach, so we are making sure we deploy all the resources and tools available in the city to ensure we support the immigrant community,” Mayor Bass said. “We continue to pursue legal relief through courts and have issued orders to all general managers to enhance our response and support for the immigrant community. I will never accept these illegal, chaotic attacks and continue to do everything I can to defend the rights of the people of Los Angeles.”
She adds that this comes after what happened at MacArthur Park on Monday, when federal agents marched through the park where children were attending summer camp.
Los Angeles and other cities have alleged that the Trump administration is violating constitutional protections against irrational searches and seizures, and that federal agents are racially profiling people and using too much power against protesters.
Meanwhile, federal law enforcement agencies say their officers and agents are under attack simply to enforce federal law, but Mayor Bus argues that enforcement itself is a problem.
“Now, people are walking down the street, cars are pulled up, there’s no license plate. Men are jumping out, fully masking, pulling guns and taking them away, except for the fact that this is unconstitutional,” Bass says. “How do you know the difference between this and a temptation?”
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