Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, alongside Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia, has called for a congressional investigation into federal immigration raids that have reportedly detained U.S. citizens and immigrants without due process. During a press conference, Bass referred to the actions by federal agents in Los Angeles as both "unlawful" and "unconstitutional," as reported by CBS LA. Echoed by Garcia, who serves as the ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, there are claims of evidence pointing to over 170 U.S. citizens being detained.
According to a City News Service report, Bass expressed concerns over the immigration raids resulting in the detainment of "U.S. citizens, which means that this can happen to anyone, to all of us, at any period of time." Garcia mentioned that citizens were being dragged off the streets by masked men and thrown into detention cells, deprived of access to attorneys. Calls have been made for the public to document and upload any ICE activity to a new ICE tracker site set to launch soon.
Since the summer, over 250 workers, mainly from local car washes, have been caught up in these raids. The LA County Board of Supervisors responded to the resulting fear and business interruptions by declaring a state of emergency last week. "It’s kind of sad we’re standing here because this has been several months now with egregious attacks from the federal government," Bass stated, as documented by FOX LA. The aftermath of the Supreme Court's lifting of a restraining order has allowed federal agencies to continue these broad operations.
The response from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to the resumption of the sweeps has been one of steadfastness. In a statement shared on social media and covered by FOX LA, DHS declared, "This decision is a victory for the safety of Americans in California and for the rule of law." In contrast, Mayor Bass, Rep. Garcia, and further congressional Democrats are calling for transparency and are seeking records related to the raids.
Consequently, discussions between Bass and Garcia have moved towards holding field hearings in Los Angeles to directly hear from the residents affected by ICE operations. Though the exact dates for these hearings remain undetermined, they intend to address the alleged abuses and safeguard the rights of those within their jurisdictions. Further actions and plans for investigations by House Oversight Committee Democrats follow the continuous outcry against the heavy-handed approach to immigration enforcement seen throughout Los Angeles.
