Comment: Beth defends her turf: “Let me know: I won’t be intimidated by Trump.

The U.S. president seems to enjoy only the bully, he is choosing in Los Angeles. But La Mayor Karen Bass, not Until recently known as the Public Struggleis dodging his fists and throwing his jab and top.

She accused President Trump of launching protests he condemned and called Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem a liar Los Angeles is a chaotic city.

I talked to her on Tuesday about how it felt to deal with a president like this, but before we chat she stepped onto the podium at the town hall, on both sides of the Labor Party, business and faith leaders, and Defend her turf again.

“It's essentially a full-scale attack on Los Angeles,” Bass said, condemning the lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice accusing her and the City Council of hindering the fight against the “illegal immigration crisis.” Bass said it was a political stunt, denied that the city's sanctuary protection was illegal.

“We know Los Angeles is a test case,” Bass said. “We're going to have a foothold, and we do it because people are snatching the parking lot from city streets and chasing the parking lots are our neighbors, our family, they're Angelens. Let me know. I'm not going to be intimidated.”

This is not the best year in a bass politics career. It begins with Destruction of Pacific Fences The wildfire that started when Bays was not in town continues to speculate on the disaster preparations in Los Angeles and questions about who will lead the reconstruction efforts.

Devote The widespread homeless disaster and Fight for the city's budget deficitit looks like the bass may be vulnerable in the 2026 campaign.

Then there was the arrival of federal agents and troops, starting on June 6, and the bass began to find its position by opposing the type.

“Her instinct was to be a coalition builder – managed by consensus,” said Fernando Guerra, a political science professor at Loyola Marymount University. But that didn't work with Trump, “so she was recalibrating and saying, you know, the only thing this guy understands is confrontation.”

Sara Sadhwani, a political professor at Pomona College, said Trump is attacking “the heart and core of Los Angeles” and that there may be unexpected consequences given that the president's actions are unifying many of Angelens' actions. “I think the vast majority of people in Los Angeles, but throughout the state, can also agree that what is going on right now is not bad and goes against our values,” Sachvani continued. “The bass shows incredibly strong leadership.”

President Trump shook hands with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass after a fire briefing in Pacific Palisades on January 24.

(Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

even Six Republican state legislators Joined the opposition and wrote to Trump, suggesting that he focus on arresting actual criminals rather than pursuing those who form a vital part of the economy.

As Sadhwani pointed out, Republican lawmakers have lamented the federal transcendence for years and advocated support for state rights and local control. However, despite the court debates that they are protected in the Tenth Amendment, the Trump administration is still telling California and Los Angeles how to rule under shelter protection.

After Tuesday’s press conference, Bass retreated to her office and told me that her support for immigration began with her work as an activist in the 1970s.

“Basically who I am. But of course A mixed family“My ex-husband is also a factor in her immigration politics. I have a Greek side to my family.”

When gathered, her family “looked like a UN General Assembly.”

This is what Los Angeles looks like, with a storyline spreading across the globe and moving beyond the borders.

“I can’t see anyone [here] In any place where deportation is required, you can imagine that in some cities it would be a very divisive issue,” Bass said.

I told her that I often hear people asking, “Do you know nothing about illegal words?” Or, people think their relatives are legally waiting and immigrating.

I understand these points, I tell Beth. But I also understand the context – i.e., people want to seek better opportunities for their children, and the temptation to rely on immigration labor and the default allowed Americans to do so while hypocritically condemning it.

Bass said she witnessed tolls for families separated along the border during her tenure in Congress. She met people who “suffered from trauma, insecurity, abandonment throughout their lives.” ”

The mayor said at least, federal agents “should identify themselves, they should have warrants, and they should stop picking people up from the streets at random. Original intent, remember, remember, [was to go after] Stubborn criminal. Where are the stubborn criminals? Are they chasing them in the parking lot of Home Depot? Are they washing the car? I don't think so. ”

On June 19, the U.S. Marine Corps Postal Guard was on the corner of Senior Avenue and Wilhill Avenue in Los Angeles.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

In fact, the vast majority of arrested people in Los Angeles No criminal record.

As for the cost of the attack in Los Angeles (by the government that vowed to reduce the government), the bass wanted to make a few points.

“You think of young men and women in the National Guard. They leave their families, work, school. Why?” she asked. “It's an abuse of the troops. The same thing as the Marines. They're not trained to deal with anything that's going on the street. They're trained to fight to kill enemies on foreign land.”

While we were talking, Bass received an emergency call from his daughter, Yvette Lechuga, who worked as a senior administrative assistant at Mount St. Mary’s University. A woman was arrested when she got out of the car, Lechuga said.

“It seems like the ice has caught our students,” Lechuga said.

Bass said her staff would investigate it.

“We've been locking in for a while,” Lechuga said.

“Jesus Christ,” the mayor said.

steve.lopez@latimes.com