Mayor Karen Bass, other Los Angeles leaders renew call to end "reckless immigration raids"

Mayor Karen Bass was joined by other local leaders in Los Angeles to reiterate their call for the end of what they have described as "discriminatory and reckless" immigration raids across the area.

Bass has been an outspoken voice for the immigrant community in LA and has taken a stand against what she calls "unlawful raids from federal agencies."

At a news conference Thursday morning, Bass said every part of the city has been affected by the raids and the local economy has taken a "major blow because of it." She added that Angelenos stand united with a clear message to the Trump administration that the "discriminatory and reckless raids" need to end now.

Bass was joined by Councilwoman Katy Young Yaroslavsky, women leaders, lawyers, members from One LA and other community organizations to highlight the financial setbacks businesses are experiencing, the fear struck into residents across the city and the negative effect of students not attending school.

"Los Angeles has been clear eyed about what is happening from day one, and has taken every action available to us to stop them and protect our communities," Yaroslavsky said. "This has always been a city of immigrants, of dreamers, of people building better futures. We will not allow fear to undo that promise."

Over the past several weeks, the city has taken several actions to fight back against immigration operations. Last month, the city joined a lawsuit filed by the ACLU challenging the "unlawful tactics" during raids, court documents say. 

Last month, Bass also signed an executive directive to support immigrant communities, calling on city departments to develop preparedness plans for federal immigration activity on city property and for departments to have a designated "immigration affairs liaison."