Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass just issued a sweeping new order to shield illegal immigrants from federal enforcement on city property—at a time when the city is $1 billion in the hole and American taxpayers are being told to brace for even more belt-tightening.
At a Glance
- Mayor Karen Bass’s Executive Directive No. 12 instructs all city departments to actively oppose federal immigration enforcement on city property.
- The move comes as LA faces a historic budget shortfall, risking essential services for citizens while promising new services for undocumented immigrants.
- Federal agencies are already in legal battles with the city over “sanctuary” policies that obstruct federal law.
- The city will now file FOIA requests on ICE operations and expand multi-language services for immigrants, with LA taxpayers footing the bill.
LA’s Mayor Prioritizes Non-Citizens Over Angelenos
On July 11, Mayor Karen Bass issued Executive Directive No. 12, mandating that every city department in Los Angeles must actively “counter” federal immigration enforcement.
Departments are now required to draft preparedness plans, report any federal immigration activity, and expand services for those affected by ICE raids. The city will even explore providing direct cash assistance to immigrants caught in federal enforcement actions.
This all comes as the city faces a fiscal emergency. With a budget shortfall approaching $1 billion, basic services for citizens are being slashed. It’s hard to avoid the sense that the needs of illegal immigrants have somehow leaped to the front of the line, leaving law-abiding Angelenos to wonder who their government is really working for.
A City at War with Federal Law
This executive directive doubles down on LA’s long history as a “sanctuary city,” which dates back to the LAPD’s 1979 “Special Order 40” that limited police cooperation with federal immigration agents. Now, Mayor Bass has moved the goalposts from non-cooperation to active resistance against federal law enforcement.
The Trump administration has not taken these moves lying down, with the federal government already engaged in legal battles with California over its sanctuary policies. Federal officials argue that these policies obstruct federal law and put public safety at risk by making it harder to remove dangerous criminal aliens from the streets.
Sanctuary policies undermine the rule of law & put public safety at risk. As a member of @HouseSmallBiz, I introduced legislation that will ensure the SBA supports American citizens and small businesses, not the Left’s out-of-touch priorities. https://t.co/cvDrraVBw5
— Congressman Brad Finstad (@RepFinstad) April 17, 2025
Taxpayers Foot the Bill for a Political Crusade
For LA’s hard-working citizens, the cost of this ideological crusade is very real. The city is facing cuts to basic services like parks, libraries, and public safety. Yet, in the midst of this crisis, the mayor has committed even more taxpayer resources to support individuals who are in the country unlawfully.
City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto has announced LA will join lawsuits targeting federal raids and will file Freedom of Information Act requests to obtain records of ICE operations—adding more layers of bureaucracy and expense. For many Angelenos, the question is simple: How much longer will they be expected to shoulder the consequences of their leaders’ political games?
