Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) accused the White House of attempting to intimidate elected officials at a press conference on Thursday, following the presence of federal agents who arrested at least one person at a nearby media event.
“The White House seemed to try and pressure federal agents during press conferences with elected officials. The thing is, they don’t intimidate Los Angeles. We won’t back down,” she mentioned in a post on Social Platform X.
Bass, who has criticized the administration’s immigration policies, asserted that the U.S. Border Patrol’s deployment in downtown Los Angeles was not a mere coincidence, especially since it occurred near a press conference led by California Governor Gavin Newsom (D).
“It’s quite public that the governor and various elected officials are having press conferences here about rezoning,” she remarked lightheartedly to a reporter on Thursday.
“They’re talking about challenges in Los Angeles, but they’re the ones creating those challenges. This is completely unacceptable. This is the administration; it’s a coordinated move by Customs and Border Patrol. It needs to end. There was no threat here, no reason to detain anyone during the governor’s press conference.”
The Border Patrol confirmed they were enforcing immigration laws in the area, resulting in one arrest of an individual residing in the country illegally, as stated by Border Patrol Sector Commander Gregory K. Bovino on Thursday.
Since June, similar operations have been launched by immigration officers in greater Los Angeles.
“It’s not just a coincidence when laws are broken. If you break the law, there’s a good chance you’ll be arrested,” Bovino told reporters.
Bill Essayri, a U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, challenged the mayor’s claims, stating that officials like Bass are “under the mistaken belief that they can act as sanctuaries against federal law.”
“No individual or community is above the law,” he expressed on Social Platform X. “Federal agents can operate anywhere in the United States, at any time.”
Meanwhile, during a press conference, Newsom advocated for his district’s plan to secure five congressional seats from Texas lawmakers ahead of the 2026 midterms.
“We have the voting maps to empower the people,” Newsom explained. “This is the first district ever created, which is significant.”
