"This Is an Attack on Every City": LA Mayor Slams Supreme Court Ruling on ICE Stops

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the Supreme Court on Monday after justices lifted restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Los Angeles, allowing them to conduct stops based on factors such as ethnicity, language spoken, or place of work.

The decision effectively expands ICE's power in the nation's second-largest city. Critics say it opens the door to profiling and undermines the rights of immigrant communities.

Mayor Bass delivered a sharp warning about the broader implications.

"This isn't just an attack on the people of Los Angeles. This is an attack on every person in every city in this country," Bass said. "Today's ruling is un-American and threatens the fabric of personal freedom in the U.S."

The Court's Ruling

The Supreme Court's decision reverses earlier limitations on ICE operations in Los Angeles, where local policies had sought to shield residents from indiscriminate questioning. The ruling gives federal agents greater latitude to stop individuals in the city, sparking fears that immigrant neighborhoods will face disproportionate targeting.

Civil rights advocates quickly raised alarms. Organizations that monitor immigration enforcement argue the ruling legitimizes practices that amount to racial profiling.

While Bass framed the decision as a national concern, its impact will be felt immediately in Los Angeles, home to millions of immigrants. The city has long been at the center of debates over how far federal immigration authorities can go when conducting operations in local jurisdictions.

Immigrant rights groups in California have already signaled they will rally against the decision. Advocacy organizations are urging residents to document and report potential abuses, while pressing Congress to pass stronger safeguards against discriminatory enforcement.