New executive directive restricts federal agents from partaking in enforcement operations on city properties
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is directing staff members to keep ICE off of city properties in a new directive announced on Tuesday morning and asking the Los Angeles Police Department to increase city monitoring.
Despite her efforts to make the city safer, many are questioning how the city will begin to enforce the new rule.
Bass decided to take initiative eight months after the increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity took over the city of LA. She believes that the city needs to make sense of the boundaries between city operations and federal actions.
The directive also requests that any officers who report to an immigration scene turn on their body cameras. Bass is also asking that the LAPD issue public data reports of incidents in which federal agents act unlawfully.
Los Angeles Police Department officers in riot gearCredit: Los Angeles File Photo
This was put into effect after Chief Jim McDonnell received backlash for his statement regarding the enforcement of masks with the new California law. The mask ban was blocked temporarily by a federal judge on Monday.
Bass wants the police chief to inform his department to comply with the new law once all concerns are resolved.
The mayor is also requesting that all city departments identify potential properties that could be used as a staging area for federal operations. Once these properties are found, she asks that they post signs banning the agents from entering.
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Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney, took to X to comment on the matter. He stated that the county cannot exclude federal agents from public spaces around the city.
Stop misleading the public. Local jurisdictions cannot target and exclude federal agents from public spaces. Your county counsel should have explained that to you. We will use any public spaces necessary to enforce federal law.
Anyone who attempts to impede our agents will be… https://t.co/mjoWSGq2cE
— F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) January 13, 2026
“The City has a responsibility to continue to safeguard public spaces,” Bass wrote in the new directive. “Now, we must assert our authority and actively guard against acts of brazen federal overreach.”
This order gives agencies 15 days to provide an outline of properties around the city, along with new restrictions. Other cities that have already taken part in this plan have not deterred ICE operations.