Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced Tuesday that the city will formally join a class-action lawsuit against the federal government, challenging what she called the “unconstitutional, reckless raids” currently being carried out by immigration enforcement agents across the Los Angeles area.
The lawsuit, originally filed as Vasquez Perdomo v. Noem, alleges that immigration agents—many of them in military gear and without clear identification—have engaged in unlawful detentions, racial profiling, and intimidation tactics, particularly targeting migrants with brown skin. The suit, led by the ACLU of California and Public Counsel, also claims that detained individuals are being held in inhumane, overcrowded conditions and denied access to legal counsel.
Bass framed the city’s decision as both constitutional defense and political resistance, stating in a press release:
“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.”
Bass accused the Trump administration of using Los Angeles as a “test case” to push the limits of federal enforcement authority, stating that militarized federal presence in neighborhoods like MacArthur Park was deployed for the “seemingly sole purpose of bringing fear” to local communities.
“We are making Los Angeles the example of how people who believe in American values will stand together and stand united,” she added.
Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto echoed that stance, describing the legal move as a direct rebuke of federal tactics that she says violate constitutional protections:
“Thousands of armed immigration agents, many of whom lack visible identification, and military troops are conducting unconstitutional raids, roundups, and anonymous detentions. Today’s motion shows we will not stand by.”
The lawsuit seeks immediate relief, including a halt to ongoing raids, and legal access for detainees, many of whom are reportedly being held without proper food, beds, or access to attorneys. Plaintiffs argue that these conditions amount to violations of the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments, as well as basic human rights.
The Department of Homeland Security has rejected the allegations, calling them “disgusting and categorically false.” Officials maintain that immigration enforcement actions are carried out lawfully and that accusations of racial targeting are unsubstantiated.
Nonetheless, the visual impact of military-style vehicles in residential neighborhoods—particularly near schools and summer camps—has amplified public criticism. Images and reports of armed raids in areas filled with children have fueled calls from local officials for federal forces to withdraw immediately.
