Calls are flooding in demanding the arrest of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass following her apparent participation in protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities in her city, with some alleging that she deliberately obstructed the operation.
“Mayor Bass, I need to retrieve my phone. We are leaving,” an agent was heard shouting at Bass, who subsequently confirmed that she was in communication with a representative from the U.S. Justice Department.
“Just wait and see,” she shouted to someone behind her. “They will be departing shortly.
“Footage from a different angle captures Bass maneuvering through the crowd as the federal agent trails her, a maneuver that critics condemned as obstructive during a period of heightened tension.
Fox L.A. reported that Bass arrived shortly after the raid commenced. She surveyed the area briefly before entering a city-issued vehicle and departing from the location.
The network’s cameras captured the moment Bass first approached the agent.
“Can I speak with them?” she inquired, to which he replied, “I’ll get her on the phone.”
She subsequently communicated with the commanding officer of the team.
“They have completed their mission here,” Bass reiterated while on the call, asking, “What is the timeframe before they depart?”
Ongoing protests against ICE have shaken L.A., culminating in last month’s riots that led to at least one fatality, numerous looted businesses, and hundreds of arrests. Since that time, local community leaders have reported immigration enforcement activities at graduation ceremonies, court proceedings, and places of worship, all of which were historically regarded as neutral spaces prior to President Donald Trump’s administration.
Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom have emerged as the primary opponents to Trump, with Newsom having unsuccessfully filed a lawsuit to regain authority over National Guard members deployed to manage the unrest. A federal court ruled in favor of Newsom last month, but that ruling was swiftly overturned by an appeals court, which determined that the president had the authority to deploy additional personnel during times of crisis.
The upcoming mayoral election in L.A. is scheduled for June 2026, providing Bass with ample time to rehabilitate her progressive image following significant criticism regarding her management of the wildfire season. At that time, Bass was out of the country, a trip she defended despite her earlier campaign promise to avoid overseas travel if elected mayor.
