A Border Patrol official declared Monday that federal agents will remain in Los Angeles “until the mission is accomplished,” following a dramatic immigration sweep at MacArthur Park that sparked backlash from local leaders. The operation involved heavily armed personnel from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and military units deployed by President Trump. Agents were seen patrolling on foot, horseback, and in armored vehicles, leading many to describe the scene as alarmingly militarized.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who had been scheduled to meet with California Governor Gavin Newsom that morning, arrived at the park and directly confronted federal agents. She denounced the operation as a “political stunt,” calling the show of force excessive and inappropriate. “What I saw in the park today looked like a city under siege,” Bass told reporters. “It’s outrageous and un-American to have armed vehicles in our American parks.”
Bass briefly spoke with CBP Assistant Chief Patrol Agent David Kim, who she said connected her to “the head of Customs.” According to Bass, agents began leaving the area shortly afterward. However, federal officials pushed back against that claim. Border Patrol El Centro Sector Chief Gregory Bovino made it clear that agents were not retreating. “The federal government does not work for Karen Bass. We’re going to be here until that mission is accomplished,” he told FOX Los Angeles.
The immigration sweep also reportedly disrupted a nearby children’s summer camp, prompting staff to shelter the children in a basement as the operation unfolded. Many parents and community members expressed concern over the safety and psychological impact on the children.
While it remains unclear if any arrests were made during the sweep, immigrant rights activists said they had warned people to leave the area before federal agents arrived. The operation highlights growing tension between federal immigration enforcement efforts and city officials in sanctuary jurisdictions like Los Angeles.
