LA Mayor Bass rips Trump, claims city part of 'national experiment' to test federal power amid anti-ICE riots

LA Mayor Karen Bass blasts White House over ICE raids

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass claimed the riots in Los Angeles were "provoked" by the White House.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass during a press conference on Wednesday claimed the LA riots were "provoked by the White House," going so far as speculating the city is part of a national experiment to determine how much power the federal government has.

Bass claimed local officials initially heard the administration was searching for violent felons, gang members and drug dealers. Yet, she alleged federal agents were raiding workplaces, "tear[ing] parents and children apart" and "run[ning] armored caravans through [the] streets."

Her comments came after protests against immigration enforcement escalated into fiery riots over the weekend, prompting President Donald Trump to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops and at least 500 Marines to the area.

Local officials this week enacted a nightly curfew and announced hundreds of arrests, following the destruction of numerous local businesses and violence against police.

A protester places debris in a fire as Border Patrol personnel in riot gear and gas masks stand guard outside an industrial park in Paramount, Calif., on Saturday, June 7, 2025.  (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

TRUMP TAKES ACTION AGAINST 'ORCHESTRATED ATTACK' ON LAW ENFORCEMENT BY DEPLOYING MARINES TO LA: ASSEMBLYMAN

"This was provoked by the White House," Bass said. "The reason why—we don't know. I posit that maybe we are part of a national experiment to determine how far the federal government can go in reaching in and taking over power from a governor, power from a local jurisdiction, and frankly, leaving our city and our citizens… in fear. … You're not trying to keep anyone safe, you're trying to cause fear and panic."

She did not denounce the violent rioting during the press conference, alleging the rioting issue is contained to six square miles.

"@MayorOfLA suggests things won't be 'peaceful' in Los Angeles until the Trump Administration stops enforcing immigration law and removing violent criminal illegals from the streets," the White House wrote in a response on X. "Why are these Radical Left lunatics so obsessed with defending criminals who have no right to be here?"

Looters break into a gas station's marketplace as demonstrators and law enforcement clash with demonstrators during a protest following federal immigration operations, in the Compton neighborhood of Los Angeles, California early on June 8, 2025.  (ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP via Getty Images)

RIOTERS SMASH WINDOWS AT LAPD HEADQUARTERS AS ANTI-ICE AGITATORS CLASH WITH AUTHORITIES

The LA mayor was joined by multiple surrounding mayors and local officials from 30 cities, who argued Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should not be enforcing the law in California. 

"We want the National Guard out of our region," said El Monte Mayor Jessica Ancona. "We want the military out of our region. They have no business here. And we also want ICE out of our cities. We need to keep our families safe."

Downey Council Member Mario Trujillo and South Gate Mayor Maria Davila noted ICE raids continued in their cities on Wednesday.

U.S. National Guard are deployed around downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following an immigration raid protest the night before.  (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Huntington Park Mayor Arturo Flores claimed the Trump administration's actions were unconstitutional, and asked to send a message directly to the Marines on the ground.

"The people that are here who have been called foreigners are not foreigners. These are Americans," Flores said. "When we lifted our hands, we swore the oath to defend the Constitution and to defend this country. That oath was to the American people. It was not to a dictator, it was not to a tyrant, it was not to a president.

Law enforcement detain a protester at the U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons after federal immigration authorities conducted an operation on Friday, June 6, 2025, in Los Angeles.  (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

"It was to the American people and the people that are here … Whether they have a document or they don't, you're dealing with Americans," Flores said. "So please remember that if you're ever put in a situation or asked to do something."

Bass later added Marines "are trained in warfare on foreign lands, not domestic," and said she did not know what role they could play without the ability to make arrests.

CALIFORNIA LT. GOVERNOR SAYS LOS ANGELES RIOTS ARE 'GENERATED BY DONALD TRUMP'

Paramount Mayor Peggy Lemons said her city created a special fund Tuesday night that will financially help immigrant families.

"The city council and staff are working tirelessly to develop other means of support and assistance, doing more to support our community," Lemons said. "We will also be seeking out our residents who have been directly impacted so that we may hear from them and provide direct support."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The White House and Department of Defense did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.

Alexandra Koch is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital. Prior to joining Fox News, Alexandra covered breaking news, crime, religion, and the military in the southeast.

Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox

Subscribed

You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!