Why I Called for a Congressional Investigation into ICE’s Unlawful Tactics

This morning, I joined Congressman Robert Garcia, community leaders, and immigrant rights organizations at City Hall to address one of the most alarming violations of civil rights we’ve seen in years.

Over the past several weeks, more than 170 people — including American citizens — have reportedly been detained, beaten, and denied legal counsel by federal immigration agents. Some were left outside in the rain. Others were kicked and dragged. These are not just numbers or headlines. Many are Angelenos — workers, parents, neighbors.

Let me be absolutely clear: this is not just an immigration issue. It is an American issue.

When citizens and legal residents can be detained without warrants, denied due process, and treated with violence by their own government, every one of us should be outraged and alarmed. Because if they can come for one of us, they can come for all of us.

Standing United for Justice

At today’s press conference, I stood alongside Congressman Garcia, Jessica Sanchez, Director of Street Medicine at St. John’s Community Health, Ortencia Ramirez, from ONE LA organization and Martha Arevalo, Executive Director of CARECEN.

Jessica shared a heartbreaking firsthand account: while providing medical care at MacArthur Park, she was pushed, insulted, and cursed at by federal agents. She spoke about the trauma this caused — not just to her, but to the patients she serves every day.

No one serving their community should ever be treated that way. No one should ever have to fear their government.

That’s why I’ve called on Congressman Garcia, in his role as Ranking Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, to launch an immediate congressional investigation into these unconstitutional actions. Los Angeles will work hand in hand with our partners in Washington and with advocates across the city to demand accountability, transparency, and justice.

Following Mayor Bass’s call for an investigation, Rep. Robert Garcia made it official this morning: ”The House Oversight Committee Democrats are going to record and create an investigative unit to ensure that, in Los Angeles, we look into every single brutal misconduct that ICE is committing. And it’s not just going to be in the House. The Senate and Senator Blumenthal has agreed that the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations will join the Oversight Democrats to ensure that this is being done in conjunction with both the House and the Senate.”

Our Values Are Non-Negotiable

Los Angeles is a city built and sustained by immigrants — a city that thrives because of its diversity, not in spite of it. The actions we are seeing from federal agents go against everything our city and nation stand for.

Let me be clear:
✅ We will defend the rights of every Angeleno — citizen or immigrant.
✅ We will fight unlawful and abusive behavior by federal authorities.
✅ We will never normalize raids that violate our Constitution or strip people of their humanity.

Our city remains united — with our immigrant communities, our faith leaders, our health workers, and every American who believes in the promise of justice and equality under the law.

What Comes Next

We will continue working with our congressional delegation to ensure accountability.

We will continue supporting organizations on the frontlines who are caring for those directly impacted.

And we will continue to raise our voices until justice is served.

Because in Los Angeles, we do not stay silent in the face of injustice.

We speak up. We show up. We demand better.

Karen Bass
Mayor of Los Angeles