LOS ANGELES – A federal immigration sweep occurred in broad daylight at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles’ Westlake District late Monday morning.
LA Mayor Karen Bass later called the incident “outrageous and un-American.”
What we know:
Aerial images from SkyFOX showed several agents surrounding the famed park at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and S. Alvarado Street around 10:45 a.m.
A black Department of Homeland Security helicopter was seen overhead, while agents on the ground were in armored vehicles, unmarked white vans, and on horseback.
By 11:07 a.m., LA Mayor Karen Bass was at the scene in a pale mint green suit. She was quickly surrounded by local media as well as federal agents. A short time later, she left the area in a city-issued vehicle.
Authorities confirmed no one was detained in the incident.
Mayor Bass: ‘No plan other than fear, chaos and politics’
What they’re saying:
A FOX 11 photojournalist was on the ground as Mayor Bass was surrounded.
FOX 11’s camera was rolling as Mayor Bass was heard asking, “Can I talk to ‘em?” and he responded by saying, “I’ll get her on the phone.”
She then took the phone to speak to the border patrol agent’s commander and is heard saying “They have completed their mission here” and asking “What’s the timeframe before they leave?”
She then returns the phone to a border patrol agent.
Related
Armored trucks. Mounted officers. No arrests. Mayor Karen Bass confronted federal agents in MacArthur Park and shut down a surprise ICE sweep — all caught on camera.
Seconds later, she was asked if she’d like to make a statement, and she immediately responded by saying, “They need to leave and they need to leave right now because this is unacceptable!”
Mayor Bass later shared her perspective of the situation on social media.
“This is footage from today in MacArthur Park.
Minutes before, there were more than 20 kids playing — then, the MILITARY comes through.
The SECOND I heard about this, I went to the park to speak to the person in charge to tell them it needed to end NOW.
Absolutely outrageous,” she wrote.
On Monday afternoon, Bass played the same clip during a news briefing where she shared her account of the morning’s events.
She explained a group of children were there as part of their summer camp program before federal agents moved in.
“In my opinion, it’s a political agenda of invoking fear and terror,” she said. “No plan other than fear, chaos, and politics.”
Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson also made remarks and said, “We need ICE out of LA, now.”
Mayor Bass concluded by saying “this city stands divided,” and that any attempts to divide the city have failed.
The backstory:
The ongoing anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles and Orange counties erupted following widespread anger over the agency’s enforcement tactics that began on Friday, June 6.
Community leaders reported incidents of ICE appearing at elementary school graduations, disrupting the legitimate immigration processes at various courthouses, and aggressively raiding workplaces and locations like Home Depot. These actions, perceived as arbitrary and invasive, sparked outrage among residents and galvanized the public into widespread demonstrations across Los Angeles County.
SUGGESTED: Large group in downtown LA rallies against ICE, federal immigration enforcement
The other side:
“We don’t comment on ongoing enforcement operations,” a senior DHS official told FOX 11.
FOX News’ Bill Melugin spoke to Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino who, like Secretary Noem, said agents aren’t going anymore.
“I don’t work for Karen Bass,” Bovino said. “Better get used to us now, cause this is going to be normal very soon. We will go anywhere, anytime we want in Los Angeles.”
“I’m not going to get used to it because last I checked, I was elected to be mayor of this city that did not include a federal takeover,” Bass said in response during Monday afternoon’s press conference.
The Source: Information from aerial images from SkyFOX, state and local officials, a statement from the Department of Homeland Security and FOX News reporter Bill Melugin.
ImmigrationWestlakeInstastories
