Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass signed an executive order that, while not preventing the Trump administration's raids, aims to reinforce the city's "sanctuary city" ordinance protocols, which prohibit the use of local resources for immigration enforcement.

The document signed by Bass at the former “El Pueblo” building in Olvera Plaza also expands access to resources for families affected by federal immigration raids, which he described as “unconstitutional and chaotic.”

Bass has instructed city government departments to strengthen their protocols and training to prepare for any federal immigration activity that occurs on city property.

The new order, Executive Directive No. 12, requires the formation of a working group between the community and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to resolve some of the problems that could occur on city property.

Bass also requested records from the Trump administration of all ICE operations in Los Angeles since June 6.

Under the Freedom of Information Act, the city seeks to know the whereabouts of all individuals who have been detained, arrested, or deported, the reasons for actions against detained immigrants, and the costs associated with immigration enforcement operations.

The mayor declared that the executive order was necessary “to help Los Angeles understand how to protect itself from our federal government.”

“Earlier this week, we saw what happened at MacArthur Park, which I think, after all the assessments, is considered simply a show of force,” Bass said. “Just to put the city in its place, to say: We are the federal government, we can deploy troops whenever we want.”

Bass expressed that Los Angeles is a proud city of immigrants, “and given the signs from the Trump administration that it will intensify its chaotic approach, I am ensuring that all available resources and tools are deployed in the city to ensure support for immigrant communities.”

At the same time, he assured that they will continue to seek legal remedies in the courts and ordered all general managers to submit preparedness plans within two weeks detailing how city employees, including contractors, should respond if approached by federal immigration agents on city premises, while complying with federal law and local ordinances.

“I will never accept these illegal and chaotic raids and will continue to do everything possible to defend the rights of the residents of Los Angeles,” he stated.

The Executive Order issued by Mayor Bass includes the following instructions:

Requires all city departments to strengthen protocols and training in accordance with the city law [Sanctuary City Ordinance] that prohibits the use of city resources in immigration enforcement and to submit preparedness plans within two weeks.

Establishes a working group with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, immigrant rights organizations, and community leaders to gather feedback and develop additional guidelines for police officers when responding to immigration enforcement activities.

This group will assist in developing additional guidance on how officers should respond to immigration enforcement.

Requests key records from the federal government, including the reasons for the arrests of individuals detained during illegal raids and the costs associated with federal activity.

Expands access to city department resources for immigrant families by leveraging each department's designated immigrant affairs liaison.

Furthermore, requests the Police Commission, in collaboration with the Chief of the LAPD, to incorporate, where appropriate, community feedback and provide additional guidance to police officers on how to respond to situations involving the enforcement of federal immigration law.

While the Los Angeles Police Department's Police Manual provides guidance on how police officers should respond to immigration enforcement activities, and the police chief recently issued an advisory to officers with additional guidance, ongoing, thorough review and guidance are critical given the unprecedented tactics the federal government is using to enforce the law.

“They're not going to arrest federal agents”

Mayor Karen Bass clarified in an interview with La Opinion that the role of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in relation to the actions of federal immigration agents in the city. “The LAPD will not arrest federal agents,” although she is awaiting a court ruling temporarily suspending their activities, which include arresting people without warrants and using violence.

What exactly will this group of Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) do when these officers arrive in the city? Are they going to protect the operation when they kidnap a person, or are they going to arrest these federal agents because they're not being identified, wearing masks, and committing violence against people, and their families don't know where they are?

“It's important not to confuse the LAPD with customs and federal agents. I'm hopeful that the courts will support us and that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can no longer, or at least temporarily, do what it was doing in the community: kidnapping people off the street without a warrant, wearing masks, men jumping out of unmarked cars,” he responded.

“Hopefully, a court decision will give us some respite.”

The directive in Executive Order No. 12 calls for the formation of a working group between the community and the LAPD to resolve some of the issues.

“What won't happen is the LAPD arresting federal agents. I don't even know if they could, but that's not the solution,” he said. “The solution is for federal agents, if they are federal agents, to follow the law, and if they're going to arrest someone, they should have a warrant to do so. They should stop kidnapping people off the street, chasing them through parking lots, going to car washes, and basically locking them up because they've taken all the workers.”

But, Mayor, in every incident, it seems they don't care about the constitutional rights of any immigrant, not even those of U.S. citizens. So how do we stop this situation?

“That's why we're using a legal strategy, which is the only strategy we have to stop them, and I hope the judge will temporarily stop it,” she said.

What is your message to immigrants in your city? In Los Angeles, people are sending their children to school, not going to the grocery store, and not going to church. Should they continue to be locked up or should they continue with their normal lives?

“I wouldn’t suggest that they continue with their normal lives until we know the court’s decision, and we hope the courts issue the correct ruling. My message to your readers is that I will do everything I can to protect all people, regardless of when they arrived or where they came from.”

“We must recognize that the federal government is a higher authority, and there are some things the federal government does that, as mayor, I cannot stop. My best way to fight back is through the courts and public opinion.”