Los Angeles Bars ICE from Using City Property for Enforcement

Mayor Karen Bass signs executive directive to limit federal immigration activity on municipal sites

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has signed an executive directive prohibiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from using any city-owned or city-controlled property as staging areas, processing locations, or bases of operation for immigration enforcement activities. The order is intended to prevent federal immigration actions from being carried out on municipal sites without city authorization.

Why it matters

The directive reinforces the city's limits on cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and asserts local control over municipal property. It also intensifies an ongoing dispute between Los Angeles and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over the extent of federal authority.

The details

The executive directive instructs the Los Angeles Police Department to preserve all evidence related to immigration enforcement operations so it can be reported and reviewed. It also directs the city's planning department to begin preparing an ordinance that would impose fees on private property owners who allow federal agents to use their sites for immigration enforcement activities. The mayor's office said the order also initiated a process requiring city contractors to disclose whether they had agreements with DHS, including the nature of that work.

  • On Tuesday, Mayor Karen Bass signed Executive Directive 17.
  • In June, Bass signed a previous directive requiring city departments to develop preparedness plans for federal immigration activity on city property.

The players

Karen Bass

The mayor of Los Angeles who signed the executive directive barring ICE from using city property for enforcement operations.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The federal agency that oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has disputed the city's limits on cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

Hugo Soto-Martinez

A Democratic Los Angeles City Councilmember who praised the mayor's directive and said it strengthens protections for immigrant families.

Ysabel Jurado

A Democratic Los Angeles City Councilmember who said the directive is a critical step toward limiting federal overreach and protecting immigrant families.

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What they’re saying

“Today, we made it clear: no city property can be used for DHS staging, and no federal agents can operate in our communities without proper identification. I was proud to stand with Mayor Bass to strengthen protections for immigrant families and send a strong message that Los Angeles will not cooperate with fear-based federal attacks on our neighborhoods.”

— Hugo Soto-Martinez, Los Angeles City Councilmember (Newsweek)

“This directive takes meaningful action to reclaim our shared spaces and hold law enforcement accountable for safeguarding Angelenos from the unconstitutional actions of masked agents. Guided by our community's urgent demand for transparency, it is a critical step toward limiting federal overreach and protecting our immigrant families.”

— Ysabel Jurado, Los Angeles City Councilmember (Newsweek)

What’s next

City departments are expected to begin implementing the directive, while planners work on the proposed ordinance affecting private property owners. The order could also draw legal challenges or prompt further federal action as the city and DHS test the limits of their respective authority.

The takeaway

This executive directive highlights the ongoing tensions between local and federal authorities over immigration enforcement, with Los Angeles asserting its control over municipal property and resources to limit the activities of federal immigration agents within the city.