FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25, 2025
Contact: Jin.Choi@mail.house.gov
Congresswoman Barragán Leads Bicameral Letter Supporting Mayor Bass’s Requests for Transparency from DHS
Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Noem in support of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s request for information regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policies and the request for information regarding the arrests and detainments of Angelenos. Senator Alex Padilla, Senator Adam Schiff, and House Democrats who represent communities in Los Angeles also joined the letter.
On July 11, Mayor Karen Bass, on behalf of the City of Los Angeles, submitted two requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for records regarding federal immigration enforcement activity conducted by or in coordination with ICE within the City of Los Angeles. Residents of Los Angeles have seen their physical safety threatened by masked, unidentified, and heavily armed federal agents forcefully conducting sweeping immigration raids throughout Los Angeles neighborhoods without warning. Absent expedited processing of this request, residents will continue to be subjected to dangerous and unpredictable arrests and detentions, which present an imminent threat to their physical safety.
“The Trump Administration thinks they are above the law and accountability,” said Rep. Barragán. “The recent ICE raids in Los Angeles are an attack on our immigrant neighbors and our families. Tearing parents from their children and targeting communities does not make us safer — it only spreads terror and mistrust. My district has been directly subjected to these raids, and I stand firmly with our immigrant communities. Federal agencies must be held accountable and conduct any operations with transparency.”
Concerns regarding ICE’s immigration enforcement actions have been raised by Los Angeles residents and have been the subject of significant media coverage in major newspapers and television outlets. These enforcement actions have sown fear and uncertainty in communities across Los Angeles and have directly undermined public confidence in the federal and local government. The Mayor and Members of Congress must receive timely responses from DHS.
Other Members of Congress who signed on to the letter include: Senator Alex Padilla, Senator Adam Schiff, and the following House Members: House Democratic Caucus Vice-Chair Ted Lieu and Representatives Gilbert Cisneros; Laura Friedman, Jimmy Gomez; Sydney Kamlager-Dove; Luz Rivas; Brad Sherman; Maxine Waters and George Whitesides.
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