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.
