Several officials from the Trump administration pushed back Friday against Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass after she vowed to resist federal efforts to apprehend illegal immigrants, just as police in her city were forced to deploy flash bangs to disperse violent protesters at multiple arrest locations.
“This morning, we received reports of federal immigration enforcement actions in multiple locations in Los Angeles. As Mayor of a proud city of immigrants, who contribute to our city in so many ways, I am deeply angered by what has taken place,” Bass said in a statement posted to social media.
“These tactics sow terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city. My office is in close coordination with immigrant rights community organizations. We will not stand for this,” she added.
Several administration officials clapped back at the mayor, including deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller.
“You have no say in this at all,” Miller fired back on social media. “Federal law is supreme and federal law will be enforced,” he noted on X.
In an interview with Fox News’ “The Big Weekend Show,” border czar Tom Homan said authorities are “stepping up” and “mobiliz[ing]” to address violence and destruction occurring near raid locations where demonstrators are gathering.
“American people, this is about enforcing the law, and again, we’re not going to apologize for doing it,” Homan said.
Other Trump administration officials chimed in as well.
“They’re Illegals. Not ‘immigrants.’ One just tried to burn Americans alive in Boulder,” White House adviser Sebastian Gorka also noted on X, in reference to Colorado terror suspect Mohamed Soliman.
“If you’re aiding and abetting them you’re a criminal too,” Gorka added in response to the LA mayor’s comments. “Are you ready to be treated as a criminal? Because we are ready to treat you as one if you commit a crime,” he warned.
Justice Department official Harmeet K. Dhillon was amazed by Bass’s flagrant disregard for federal law.
“It’s amazing the number of elected officials who don’t grasp the basics of federalism, or federal sovereignty over immigration issues, or the First Amendment,” Dhillon tweeted.
The immigration raids in Los Angeles triggered protests at several arrest sites, with at least one individual taken into custody for allegedly obstructing federal law enforcement operations.
“Federal agents were executing a lawful judicial warrant at a LA worksite this morning when David Huerta deliberately obstructed their access by blocking their vehicle,” US Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement. “He was arrested for interfering with federal officers and will face arraignment in federal court on Monday.”
“Let me be clear: I don’t care who you are — if you impede federal agents, you will be arrested and prosecuted.”
Huerta is president of the California branch of the influential Service Employees International Union, the New York Post reported.
Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin criticized the city’s handling of the escalating protests, which intensified hours after federal agents conducted the immigration raids.
“Assaulting ICE enforcement officers, slashing tires, defacing buildings. 800 protestors have surrounded and breached the first layer of a federal law enforcement building in LA,” McLaughlin wrote on X. “@LAPD has not responded. This violence against @ICEgov must stop.”
Richard Grenell, President Trump’s envoy for special missions, blamed Democratic Mayor Bass for the unrest.
“Karen Bass whipped all of this up. She attacked the rule of law. She undermined democracy,” Grenell wrote on X, sharing images of protesters attempting to block federal law enforcement vehicles.
“The @MayorOfLA is creating chaos in LA,” he noted further.