Federal–Local Power Struggles

The Los Angeles County Board unanimously approved Supervisor Lindsey Horvath’s motion directing county counsel to draft an "ICE‑free zones" ordinance within 30 days that would bar use of county‑owned and county‑controlled property as staging, processing or operations bases for unauthorized civil immigration enforcement—while still allowing criminal enforcement and actions under valid judicial warrants—and would require uniform signage and a permit process after a disruptive October 2025 federal operation at Deane Dana Friendship Park. The Justice Department, via First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, warned local jurisdictions cannot exclude federal agents from public spaces and threatened arrests or charges for those who impede agents, and critics say the measure could put federal funding (reported by some outlets as up to $1 billion) at risk.