VA Director Responds to Anti-ICE Riots in Los Angeles

Veterans Affairs Director Doug Collins recently reached out to California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass regarding the waves of protests affecting veteran communities in the city. The letter, sent this week, highlighted the “violent” nature of these riots as a key factor in the VA’s decision to shut down outpatient care centers in Los Angeles for a minimum of five days.

According to the letter, local leaders faced a challenging choice after the walls of VA buildings were marked with threatening graffiti aimed at federal immigration officials. This closure impacted over 600 veteran appointments during this time.

Collins expressed concern, stating, “In other words, between your state veterans who failed to maintain law and order in Los Angeles and the medical care they acquired.” He further emphasized his disappointment in the response from city and state officials, suggesting that their priority seemed to be aligning with former President Donald Trump’s opposition rather than protecting citizens from violence and unrest.

Additionally, Collins criticized what he described as “slow responses to riots” in urban areas, raising important questions about veterans’ safety, especially for those relying on the federal VA program.

The letter also made specific requests for updates regarding the measures Newsom and Bass are taking to restore order in the areas affected, as well as the status of investigations surrounding the vandalism at the care centers. It emphasized that local authorities would need to cover the cost of repairing the damage.

In response, Newsom and Bass expressed their disapproval of federal involvement in the unrest, labeling such actions as unconstitutional and excessive. Together with California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Newsom has even launched a federal lawsuit aimed at preventing military force from intervening in immigration enforcement activities.

The lawsuit contends that federal officials are trying to impose a “warrior culture” on American streets, threatening the safety of communities where families work and educate their children. Newsom’s office suggests that this disregard for local governance could have severe repercussions not just in California, but potentially across the nation.