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Several Trump administration officials fired back at Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Friday after she pledged to oppose federal efforts to nab illegal immigrants — as cops in her city had to use flash bangs to disperse the violent mob of protesters who descended on the arrest sites.
“We will not stand for this,” Bass said in a statement released after federal immigration authorities arrested 44 people in raids across Los Angeles.
“I am deeply angered by what has taken place,” the Democrat mayor fumed, noting that her office “is in close coordination with immigrant rights community organizations.”
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller quickly dismissed Bass’ declaration.
“You have no say in this at all,” Miller shot back on social media.
“Federal law is supreme and federal law will be enforced,” he noted on X.
Miller was one of several Trump administration officials that took issue with Bass’ statements.
“They’re Illegals. Not ‘immigrants.’ One just tried to burn Americans alive in Boulder,” White House adviser Sebastian Gorka wrote on X, referring to Colorado terror suspect Mohamed Soliman.
The Egyptian national overstayed his tourist visa before allegedly firebombing a peaceful march for Israeli hostages still held by Hamas on Sunday in a heinous antisemitic attack.
“If you’re aiding and abetting them you’re a criminal too,” Gorka said in response to the LA mayor’s comments. “Are you ready to be treated as a criminal?
“Because we are ready to treat you as one if you commit a crime,” he warned.
Justice Department official Harmeet K. Dhillon was stunned by Bass’ understanding of the law.
“It’s amazing the number of elected officials who don’t grasp the basics of federalism, or federal sovereignty over immigration issues, or the First Amendment,” Dhillon tweeted.
The Los Angeles immigration raids sparked protests at the arrest sites, and at least one person was taken into custody for allegedly obstructing federal law enforcement.
“Federal agents were executing a lawful judicial warrant at a LA worksite this morning when David Huerta deliberately obstructed their access by blocking their vehicle,” US Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement. “He was arrested for interfering with federal officers and will face arraignment in federal court on Monday.”
“Let me be clear: I don’t care who you are — if you impede federal agents, you will be arrested and prosecuted.”
Huerta is president of the California branch of the influential Service Employees International Union.
Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin decried the city’s response to protesters’ clashes with federal agents – which escalated hours after the raids.
“Assaulting ICE enforcement officers, slashing tires, defacing buildings. 800 protestors have surrounded and breached the first layer of a federal law enforcement building in LA,” McLaughlin wrote on X. “@LAPD has not responded.”
“This violence against @ICEgov must stop.”
Richard Grenell, President Trump’s envoy for special missions, blamed Bass for the unrest.
“Karen Bass whipped all of this up. She attacked the rule of law. She undermined democracy,” Grenell wrote on X, sharing images of protesters attempting to block federal law enforcement vehicles.
“The @MayorOfLA is creating chaos in LA,” he fumed.
With Post wires
English (US)