Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed her frustration on Thursday after a large presence of Border Patrol agents gathered outside a press conference held by California Governor Gavin Newsom. The event took place at the Japanese American National Museum, where Newsom was set to discuss California’s strategy against Republican redistricting efforts in Texas.
As Newsom spoke, approximately 100 federal officers were seen assembling nearby, apparently preparing for a raid in the area. This coincidental timing raised eyebrows and sparked immediate outrage from Bass. She criticized the federal agents’ presence, calling it disrespectful and a provocative act meant to undermine the governor’s message.
Bass stated, “There is no way this was a coincidence. This was widely publicized that the governor and many of our other elected officials were having a press conference here. Why would you do that? It’s unbelievably disrespectful.” She added that the situation was unacceptable, claiming that the federal agents were contributing to disorder in Los Angeles rather than alleviating it.
In response to the incident, Newsom’s office shared a video on social media, portraying the agents’ presence as an intimidation tactic. They tweeted, “BORDER PATROL HAS SHOWED UP AT OUR BIG BEAUTIFUL PRESS CONFERENCE! WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED!”
However, Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, pushed back against the accusations. She explained that U.S. Customs and Border Patrol routinely patrols Los Angeles with multiple teams to ensure safety. “Our law enforcement operations are about enforcing the law — not about Gavin Newsom,” she stated.
During the press conference, Newsom revealed plans for a special election that would enable California’s legislature to redraw its congressional map. This move comes as California’s current map, set by an independent commission, has resulted in only nine of its 52 congressional districts being held by Republicans, despite a significant portion of the vote going to Donald Trump in 2024.
The clash between local and federal authorities highlights ongoing tensions over immigration policies and political strategies in California. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how this incident will impact relations between state officials and federal agencies.
