LA Cities sue Feds, charging unlawful immigration raids
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass yesterday joined LA City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto and regional mayors in Los Angeles County to announce new legal action that the City will take to put a stop to the unconstitutional reckless raids in the LA region.
“The Administration is treating Los Angeles as a test case for how far it can go in driving its political agenda forward while pushing the Constitution aside,” said Bass. “The City of Los Angeles, along with the County, cities, organizations and Angelenos across L.A., is taking the Administration to court to stop its clear violation of the United States Constitution and federal law. We will not be intimidated – we are making Los Angeles the example of how people who believe in American values will stand together and stand united.”
“The federal government has concentrated thousands of armed immigration agents, many of whom lack visible identification, and military troops in our communities, conducting unconstitutional raids, roundups and anonymous detentions, sowing fear and chaos among our residents,” said Soto. “Today’s motion to intervene shows we will not stand by and allow these raids to continue or to become the standard operating procedure in our communities.”
Central to this effort is a request to intervene in a class action lawsuit “Perdomo v. Noem,” which was brought on behalf of people who have been unlawfully stopped or detained by federal agents.
The lawsuit alleges that federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have engaged in unconstitutional and unlawful immigration raids by targeting Angelenos based on their perceived race and ethnicity and also denying detainees constitutionally-mandated due process.
The announcement comes after federal agents marched through MacArthur Park and militarized vehicles were deployed to the streets as children were attending a summer camp with the seemingly sole purpose of bringing fear to Los Angeles.
Bass and other elected officials will not accept the presence of federalized troops and military-style vehicles on our streets becoming normalized behavior, and will use every resource available to bring an end to these reckless raids.
Brownley questions DHS Secretary Noem
U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Calabasas) this week joined U.S. Rep. Lou Correa (D-Orange County) and 21 House Democrats in pressing U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem on the alarming actions of federal agents in California, including Ventura, Los Angeles, and Orange Counties.
In a letter to Noem, the members expressed deep concerns about the Trump Administration’s lack of transparency in the agency’s recent immigration enforcement operations and activities, including the detention of individuals with no criminal record. The letter strongly condemns the administration’s overreach and demands immediate transparency.
“President Trump initially promised to go after the worst of the worst in his immigration policy,” wrote the Members. “However the actions of this administration and your DHS show you are not interested in arresting dangerous criminals like murderers, rapists, and drug dealers. Instead, you are sending masked individuals who do not identify themselves as law enforcement to arrest college and high school students, restaurant workers, factory workers, and even American children.”
“This administration refuses to provide accurate details around what criminal record, if any, DHS components use to justify the arrest of an individual,” wrote the members.
A recent analysis by the Los Angeles Times found that 69% of individuals detained by ICE had no criminal convictions. In their letter, the Members demanded DHS to provide immediate and accurate information on their immigration enforcement activities.
The full letter can be found here.
Hahn Establishes $20,000 Reward in West Whittier Murder
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn yesterday saw the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved her motion to establish the County’s $20,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the June 2, 2025 murder of Benjamin Ryan Castaneda, 27, on the 8100 block of Broadway Ave. in unincorporated West Whittier-Los Nietos.
Castaneda was driving north on Broadway Avenue around 11:20 pm when a gold or brown four-door sedan, also driving north on Broadway Avenue, pulled alongside the driver’s window.
The suspect shot into Castaneda’s vehicle. Castaneda was struck by gunfire and later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Pico Rivera Station responded to the scene.
“I cannot imagine the shock and pain that Benjamin’s family has experienced in the weeks since his sudden and horrific killing,” said Hahn. “We need the public’s help to bring the violent criminals who took him away from them to justice.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau Detective Gail Durham or Sergeant Frank Alvarado at (323) 890-5500 or the Crime Stoppers Hotline at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).
Negrete announces Santa Monica State of the City with a twist
Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete said recently that the City’s upcoming annual State of the City, slated for Christine Emerson Reed Park and the newly reopened Miles Memorial Playhouse, will come with a twist – it’s launching a six-month-long celebration of Santa Monica’s 150th anniversary.
“This year’s State of the City goes beyond a status report, it’s a tribute,” said Negrete. “As we mark our 150th year, we’re honoring the resilience of our community, the renewal of beloved spaces like the Miles Playhouse and the energy of a city that continues to grow and evolve with intention.”
Putting a new spin on the State of the City tradition, the evening will start with an opening reception inside the beautifully revived Miles Memorial Playhouse, offering light refreshments, city information displays and a chance to meet and connect with Negrete and incoming City Manager Oliver Chi.
The reception will be followed by live performances in the park, tours of the Miles Memorial Playhouse, a beer garden by Santa Monica Brew Works, interactive city department booths across Reed Park including a prize wheel, a succulent giveaway, police officers on horseback, a fire truck and more.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or beach chairs and a picnic to enjoy during the performances.
The event is slated for between 4 and 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 17, at Christine Emerson Reed Park and the newly reopened Miles Memorial Playhouse. Admission is free, and it is open to all ages. For additional details, click here.
