Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass pledged Wednesday to do “anything” to protect all Angelenos from the federal government’s aggressive immigration enforcement business, but admitted that if the court intervenes, the city may not be able to maintain its sanctuary status.
Speaking to only Enrique Chiabra, anchor at Telemundo 52, NBC Los Angeles sister station, the bus said she and her staff were responding to immigration enforcement as they don’t receive sophisticated notifications from the federal government.
“Everything was happening in the city was rumoured,” Bass explained, adding that there have been some time since the story of an ice attack at MacArthur Park in the Westlake area. “Frankly, it was so ridiculous and heinous that I didn’t believe it.
When she called the MacArthur Park operation as a “performance” by the Trump administration, she suspected the operation had been filmed for the benefit of the federal government.
“What I heard was that they had a network, a television network that was built into their attack,” Bass maintained. “I don’t think it was meant to be serious. Who would arrest them? People suffering from drug addiction?”
City Council President Markey Harris Dawson told NBC Los Angeles that no one was detained or arrested during Operation MacArthur, despite military vehicles damaging city streets.
Bass explained when he spoke to Chief Gregory Bovino of the El Centro Sector of the US Border Patrol, who was told that federal agents were in an area that “deals with crime.”
“There was nothing justifying the debacle they displayed in the park,” Bass said. “There was a criminal element around the park, but that was being addressed and there was an ongoing effort to address what was going on in the park.”
The mayor said the city council and LAPD worked together to “significantly” reduce violent crimes and arrest local drug carriers.
The federal government denounced the city and California sanctuary status for sending federal agents to carry out immigrant raids, and Bass admitted that despite her commitment to doing everything in her power to protect her position, LA cannot promise to remain as a sanctuary city.
“We have a scenario where the courts will overturn our policies and hope that doesn’t happen,” the mayor said. “I certainly want the best, and I’m going to fight for the best.”
She expressed optimism about her reelection efforts in 2026 despite facing strong criticism over her reaction to the January 7 wildfire that devastated Altadena and the Pacific Pallisad.
“I’m going to win. Obviously, I’m going to work very hard,” Bus repeatedly said, “No one was prepared” due to the Santa Ana storm spreading the fires of Eton and Palisades.
“(The alert) had not been promoted to a critical situation point. Otherwise, the county and city would have been in emergency mode,” Bass explained.
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