Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced that the city is joining a class-action lawsuit aimed at halting what she describes as “unconstitutional reckless raids” conducted by the Trump administration’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The lawsuit intends to challenge the impact of these operations on local communities, particularly in Los Angeles, which Bass claims has become a testing ground for the administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
During a press conference on July 7, 2025, Bass stated that the city is taking a stand against federal actions that she believes undermine the Constitution. She emphasized that Los Angeles, along with the county and various organizations, is united in its opposition to the administration’s tactics. “We will not be intimidated,” Bass declared. “We are making Los Angeles the example of how people who believe in American values will stand together and stand united.”
City Attorney Responds to Federal Actions
Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto highlighted the city’s motivations for joining the lawsuit. She described the raids as an alarming trend, asserting that the federal government has deployed thousands of armed immigration agents and military personnel in local communities, often without visible identification. These actions, according to Feldstein Soto, create an environment of fear and chaos among residents.
“This motion to intervene demonstrates our commitment to ensuring these raids do not become standard operating procedure in our communities,” she stated. The lawsuit aims to send a clear message to the Trump administration that Los Angeles will not tolerate such practices.
The original class-action lawsuit, titled “Vasquez Perdomo v. Noem“, was brought forth by a coalition of individual immigrants and advocacy organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of California and Public Counsel. It seeks to halt what it describes as unlawful immigration raids across the Los Angeles area, with a particular focus on the targeting of migrants based on their appearance.
Allegations Against ICE
The ACLU’s allegations against ICE include claims that the agency conducts raids inhumane conditions, leaving many migrants without basic necessities such as food, beds, and legal counsel. The Department of Homeland Security has denied these allegations, calling accusations of racial profiling “disgusting and categorically false.”
In addition to halting the raids, the lawsuit seeks to ensure that individuals currently detained in overcrowded and “dungeon-like” facilities have access to legal representation, particularly given the reported inhumane conditions.
The announcement of the lawsuit comes in response to a recent surge in federal immigration actions, including the deployment of militarized vehicles in Los Angeles neighborhoods. Bass expressed her concern that these operations serve to instill fear within the community rather than uphold the law.
“We will use every resource we have to put an end to these reckless raids,” she affirmed, indicating that community leaders and elected officials are determined to resist federal overreach in local affairs.
As tensions rise in Los Angeles over immigration enforcement, the city’s lawsuit represents a significant challenge to the Trump administration’s policies. The outcome could have implications not only for the local immigrant population but also for broader national immigration policies.
