The Feds Pull Up: Massive Immigration Raid Sparks Outrage in LA’s Westlake District
Federal agents swarmed the streets near MacArthur Park in LA’s Westlake neighborhood on Monday — and they didn’t come quietly. Armored vehicles, blacked-out SUVs, and vans rolled in deep, taking over blocks like a warzone. Witnesses and local media say the operation included over 100 agents, with U.S. Border Patrol and several other agencies locking down the area.
Mayor Karen Bass Enforces Curfew After Anti-ICE Protests Spark Looting and Damage in Los Angeles
This all comes after weeks of rising tension and backlash over immigration enforcement operations in LA. Protesters have been turning up heavy in front of federal buildings, especially near the downtown detention center.
Mayor Karen Bass, who has made protecting immigrant communities a priority, was briefly spotted on the scene. She appeared surrounded by protesters holding signs demanding the feds leave. Moments later, she got into a vehicle and left without speaking much — but not before she gave reporters a quick promise:
“You wait and see. They will be leaving soon.”
Her appearance sent a clear message — she’s not here for the militarized immigration raids happening on her watch.
Mayor Bass Responds: “They Will Be Leaving Soon”
Karen Bass didn’t hold a full press conference at the scene, but her one-liner made waves. The Los Angeles mayor’s bold presence in the crowd sent a signal that she’s not standing by while federal agencies carry out raids that many see as fear-mongering tactics in immigrant neighborhoods.
While Mayor Bass was scheduled to address the public later that morning in Pasadena about wildfire recovery efforts, the drama in Westlake took center stage. Her team has yet to release a formal statement, but folks are expecting one soon.
This isn’t the first time the city’s pushed back against federal enforcement. During the Trump years, both Marines and National Guard troops were stationed at federal buildings — and many of them are still lingering around. Local leaders have long argued these federal shows of force don’t reflect LA’s values, especially when they target Black and Brown communities.