NOTE: Video and X-post at the end of the article.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is under fire after flatly rejecting a proposal to meet with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), amid escalating tensions in the city related to immigration enforcement actions.
Over the weekend, Los Angeles witnessed a wave of protests and violent clashes following ICE operations targeting individuals with final removal orders. The situation quickly deteriorated into riots, including acts of vandalism, arson, and assaults on law enforcement. Despite this chaos, Bass doubled down on her refusal to engage with federal immigration authorities.
Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin reported that a Fox producer approached Bass on Tuesday to ask if she would consider meeting with ICE officials to discuss a potential cooperation strategy. Bass’s response was unequivocal. “The only deal is for ICE to go home,” she reportedly said, making it clear she had no interest in working with the agency.
ICE officials swiftly issued a blistering response. Emily Covington, Assistant Director of the ICE Office of Public Affairs, slammed Bass’s stance, accusing her of prioritizing politics over public safety.
“ICE isn’t going anywhere and will continue to do what Mayor Bass has utterly failed to do — protect the citizens of Los Angeles,” Covington said in a statement. “If she wants distance from federal law enforcement, I’m sure there is an upcoming diplomatic trip to Ghana.”
This public feud reflects broader national tensions between federal immigration authorities and Democrat-led cities that have adopted “sanctuary” policies—refusing to assist ICE with enforcement even in cases involving criminal convictions or final removal orders. ICE officials argue such policies obstruct law enforcement and jeopardize public safety.
Adding fuel to the fire, former Trump advisor Stephen Miller weighed in, accusing Bass of using “the language of insurrection” in her remarks. Bass attempted to respond on social media, though she did not directly address Miller’s accusation or clarify her position on ICE cooperation.
Miller followed up by sharing a now-viral image from the LA riots showing a masked protester waving a foreign flag atop a burning vehicle—a symbol that many online have used to criticize the city’s handling of the unrest.
As public concern grows over rising lawlessness and a perceived lack of leadership, Bass’s refusal to engage with ICE may further inflame debate over immigration policy, federal enforcement, and the responsibilities of local officials during times of crisis.
With the 2024 election still fresh in the public mind, this clash may become yet another flashpoint in the national conversation on border security and law enforcement cooperation.
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https://twitter.com/StephenM/status/1940211147183149290
