As tension continues to rise in Los Angeles following recent ICE raids, Mayor Karen Bass is taking matters into her own hands — offering direct financial help to migrant families caught in the chaos.
Cash Relief Cards on the Way
Mayor Bass announced that her office will soon begin distributing prepaid cash cards to migrants who have been impacted by the recent wave of ICE operations across the city.
These cards will carry “a couple hundred dollars,” she said, and will be available within the next week.
The goal, she explained, is to support people who are too afraid to leave their homes, let alone go to work.
“They need cash,” Bass emphasized, pointing out that many have suddenly lost their source of income.
A Rapid Response to a Growing Crisis
Since the start of the ICE crackdowns, nearly 2,800 people have been arrested in LA.
If each of them received just $200, that would amount to more than half a million dollars in aid.
While the exact funding source hasn’t been revealed, Bass hinted that the money would come in part from donations by philanthropic organizations.
Tragedy Sparks More Urgency
The mayor’s decision follows a heartbreaking incident at Glass House Farms in Camarillo.
During a raid, a migrant worker named Jaime Alanís tried to escape and tragically fell from a 30-foot building.
He later died from his injuries — a grim reminder of the desperation many are facing.
Bass shared stories from her conversations with families in LA, including one woman who is now facing eviction after her husband — the family’s primary breadwinner — was detained.
“This is about emergency support,” the mayor stressed.
No Clear Application Rules Yet
So far, it’s unclear who exactly will qualify for the program or how the distribution process will work.
But Bass has also said her office is working to organize food deliveries for those in need — part of a broader effort to help stabilize affected families.
Inspired by Past Emergency Aid
This new initiative echoes a similar one from the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Then-Mayor Eric Garcetti launched the “Angeleno Card,” offering up to $1,500 to struggling residents.
Bass is now adopting a comparable approach for today’s immigration crisis.
Taking the Legal Battle to Washington
Beyond financial aid, Bass is also taking legal action.
Earlier this week, the City of Los Angeles joined eight other cities in a lawsuit against the federal government.
The suit claims that ICE raids violate the Fourth and Fifth Amendments by profiling people based on race and arresting them without probable cause.
The lawsuit names key Trump officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
LA City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto called the raids “unconstitutional roundups” and warned against allowing these tactics to become the norm.
Federal Raids Spark Outrage Across LA
Just days before the announcement, armed federal agents stormed MacArthur Park — even shutting down a children’s summer camp in the process.
Dozens of people have reportedly been detained across LA without explanation, leaving many feeling targeted and unsafe.
Bass didn’t hold back in her criticism: “How do we know the difference between this and a kidnapping?”
State Leaders vs Trump Administration
The federal crackdown has reignited political tensions between California leaders and the Trump Administration.
Protests against ICE actions have made national headlines, and border czar Tom Homan has threatened to arrest Governor Gavin Newsom and other Democratic leaders over their resistance.
In response, Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to California and placed 500 Marines on standby.
The LAPD was also authorized to use “less-lethal munitions” to maintain order.
Newsom Claps Back at Border Czar
Governor Newsom didn’t mince words after Homan called him “an embarrassment.”
He fired back with a fiery message: “Come and arrest me. Let’s just get it over with, tough guy.”
Newsom slammed Homan for targeting families instead of serious criminals, saying, “Lay your hands off four-year-old girls just trying to get an education… what the hell is this guy?”
He ended with a direct challenge, daring Homan to take action against him: “You know where to find me.”
