Mayor Bass Faces Backlash Over Immigration Comments

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who has been critical of former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, is facing ridicule after suggesting that a story involving a local woman and ICE might be an elaborate deception. This follows a statement from the Department of Homeland Security on social media, urging her to reconsider her position. They bluntly remarked, “Mayor, you’ve hit a hoax. There’s still time to delete this.”

This controversy centers on Juliana Peraes Calderon, a 41-year-old undocumented immigrant in Los Angeles, who has been charged with conspiracy and making false declarations to a federal officer. Bass had previously shared a news piece related to Calderon’s case, describing her as a mother who was supposedly abducted from her car on the way to work and coerced into “self-reporting” at a warehouse.

Bass expressed her fears, stating, “I don’t have hearing; I’m just afraid. This is no more safe than anyone.”

In response to the backlash, DHS clarified the situation by asserting that Calderon had not been arrested or lured by anyone from ICE. Furthermore, the Republican National Committee criticized Bass, accusing her of spreading misleading narratives that unfairly malign ICE agents.

Calderon’s claims include an assertion that she was beckoned by a man in an unmarked vehicle while in a parking lot on June 25. She alleged that she was forced to sign documents for ICE and was taken against her will to the border. However, she later refused to sign, stating she was held in a warehouse under duress.

The Los Angeles Police Department has started an investigation regarding Calderon’s situation, and DHS has also initiated inquiries after verifying that she was not in custody.

During the investigation, it was discovered that Calderon had attempted to cover her tracks by making calls to family members using borrowed phones with hidden numbers. Surveillance footage revealed her quietly leaving a fast-food parking lot and entering a silver sedan, even with a marked LAPD vehicle nearby, yet she did not seek assistance.

The Justice Department indicated that Calderon maintained a false narrative about being taken by masked individuals, aiming to mislead law enforcement. Calderon, along with others, allegedly provided inconsistent stories to federal agents in a bid to escape scrutiny.

While Calderon’s daughter launched a GoFundMe campaign related to her alleged plight, the page has since been removed, and the family reportedly does not have access to the raised funds.

Currently, Calderon is in U.S. immigration custody, facing potential imprisonment of up to five years for conspiracy as well as additional penalties for making false statements if she is convicted.

Fox News Digital attempted to contact Mayor Bass’s office for a statement but did not receive a reply before the publication deadline.