Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has strongly rebuked US President Donald Trump’s deployment of thousands of federal military troops in Los Angeles, calling it a “chaotic escalation” amid ongoing protests.
The protests are a reaction to the Trump administration’s immigration raids in workplaces across the downtown area of the city. The protests against the raids have been ongoing for nearly one week, with more protests planned across the US this weekend.
Earlier this week, Bass said the ICE raids in Los Angeles were “political retribution” against the residents of a predominantly Democratic city.
“This fear paralyses communities. We saw it before: kids too scared to go to school, families torn apart without warning. Let’s not pretend this is about public safety. It’s political retribution—plain and simple,” she said.
Bass was also joined by more than 20 mayors and local elected officials from across Southern California to call for an end to the federal immigration raids.
“Mayors across the L.A. region and the country have spoken out unequivocally against these reckless raids and the Trump administration’s chaotic escalation here in Los Angeles,” said Mayor Bass.
“When you raid Home Depots and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart, and when you deploy troops to our streets, you’re not trying to keep anyone safe – you’re trying to cause fear and panic. These raids must stop.”
At a press conference, Bass called out Trump’s deployment of Marines and National Guard troops. Trump issued the order despite objections from officials in California, who said that local law enforcement had the situation under control.
The Trump administration will now face a legal challenge over its deployment of Marines and troops.
“I posit that maybe we are part of a national experiment to determine how far the federal government can go in reaching in and taking over power from a governor, power from a local jurisdiction and frankly leaving our city and our citizens, our residents in fear,” Bass told the media.
“All of us represent cities in this region where immigrants are key and if in some cases not the majority of the population. To have people live in fear like it is today is just unacceptable.”
Meanwhile, Paramount Mayor Peggy Lemons said many residents across Los Angeles are now too afraid to leave their homes.
“For many in our city this has been one of the most devastating moments in recent memory. Lives have been disrupted, families are too afraid to leave their homes, and the very places that once served as gathering spots for joy, like our beloved swap meet, have been marred by fear,” Lemons said at the press conference.
“As a vibrant gathering place for our diverse community, some are avoiding going to work.”