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A sharp political dispute has emerged between the White House and Los Angeles city leadership following comments by Mayor Karen Bass criticizing recent federal immigration enforcement actions in the city. White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller responded forcefully to Bass’s remarks, calling them “the definition of insurrection.”
The controversy stems from federal operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Los Angeles, which involved the arrest of multiple individuals with prior criminal convictions. Mayor Bass condemned the enforcement activity, stating, “We need to stop the raids,” and linking the federal presence to a rise in local unrest.
“It is not warranted,” Bass said. “The only thing it does is contribute to chaos. This was chaos that was started in Washington, D.C. On Thursday the city was peaceful. On Friday it was not because of the intervention of the federal government.”
Bass’s remarks were met with disagreement from Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore, who challenged her claims about the connection between federal enforcement and unrest.
Stephen Miller, a senior Trump adviser, responded to Bass by asserting that her comments threatened federal law enforcement. “The Mayor of LA is effectively saying the mob violence is caused by the mere presence of ICE,” Miller said. “This is the definition of insurrection.”
Miller further accused California leadership of seeking to override federal immigration law and undermine national sovereignty, saying they “demand the nullification of the election results, of federal law, of national sovereignty.”
The Department of Homeland Security has since released information on those arrested, noting that many had serious criminal convictions. These included charges such as child molestation, sexual battery, assault with intent to commit rape, drug trafficking, and domestic violence.
ICE officials stated that the operations were part of a broader effort to remove individuals unlawfully present in the U.S. who have criminal records. Despite this, Mayor Bass reiterated her opposition, calling for ICE activity to cease in the city and advocating for local jurisdiction over immigration matters.
Los Angeles is one of several U.S. sanctuary cities that have adopted policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities, a point of ongoing tension between local and federal governments.
The debate reflects broader national disagreements over immigration enforcement, federal authority, and public safety.
