Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has issued a sweeping executive order barring federal immigration authorities, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), from using city-owned or controlled property.
The order is expected to heighten already intense tensions between local officials and the federal government over immigration enforcement.
The order, signed Feb. 10, directs all city departments to deny ICE and other federal immigration agencies access to public facilities while also requiring the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to keep body cameras activated during any encounters involving federal immigration operations.
Bass says the move is a step to “protect Los Angeles,” a city long known for its large immigrant population.
“Let me make myself clear, this is not normal, and it will never be normal. It is the opposite of what a federal government is supposed to do,” Bass said while announcing the directive.
New restrictions and oversight measures
Under the order, city departments must appoint designated immigration affairs liaisons to coordinate responses to federal enforcement activity. The directive also instructs LAPD officers to document the names and badge numbers of federal agents’ supervisors on the scene, collect reports from residents about alleged misconduct, and preserve body-camera footage.
Police officers are frequently present at ICE operations to maintain public safety during tense encounters between agents and community members. Bass said the additional documentation requirements aim to increase transparency and signal the city’s opposition to federal enforcement actions conducted on local property.
“We have resisted against it since this terror started, and we will continue to do that,” Bass said, referencing controversial ICE operations in 2025 that triggered widespread protests across Los Angeles.
Part of a broader trend among Democratic cities
Bass’ order follows similar moves by other Democratic leaders. In October 2025, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced “ICE Free Zones,” restricting federal immigration enforcement access to certain city and private spaces after violent clashes between agents and residents.
Supporters of such policies argue they protect immigrant communities and maintain trust between residents and local law enforcement. Critics, however, say they interfere with federal authority.
Federal response
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) quickly pushed back against Bass’ directive, signaling the federal government intends to continue enforcement activities in the region.
A DHS spokesperson said that under Secretary Kristi Noem’s leadership, immigration enforcement efforts will proceed “relentless and unapologetic” in the Los Angeles area, accusing “sanctuary politicians like Karen Bass” of attempting to demonize law enforcement.
Cultural context and messaging
Bass recently highlighted Los Angeles’ identity as a multicultural hub, pointing to themes of unity showcased during Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance.
In a social media post, she described the city as “a city of immigrants” and stressed the importance of diverse communities to America’s identity.
“Tonight’s halftime show reminded us what America truly looks like — unity, honor, pride, and cultures coming together,” she wrote.
The executive order underscores a continuing conflict between local sanctuary-style policies and federal immigration enforcement priorities — a dispute likely to intensify as immigration remains a central political issue nationwide.
