Local Police and Officials Left in the Dark During Massive ICE L.A. Raids

As Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ramps up operations across Los Angeles, local law enforcement and city officials are sounding the alarm — not over the raids themselves, but over the fact they weren’t told they were happening.

From downtown L.A. to the Fashion District to a Home Depot parking lot in Paramount, federal agents have carried out immigration sweeps that sparked fiery protests and forced the LAPD into chaotic, last-minute responses. According to city leaders, the root of the confusion is simple: they were never notified.

“We do not know where and when the next raids will be. That is the concern,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a CNN interview. “I was notified when the raids were happening.”

Police officials echoed her frustration. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell stated his department had no advance warning before the Friday raids began. As a result, LAPD was unable to position officers, manage crowds, or prevent unrest — arriving on the scene only after tensions had already exploded.

According to an LAPD statement, the lack of preparation created a “hazardous environment” for officers, who arrived to find crowds clashing with federal agents who had already deployed irritants.

ICE officials have pushed back, with a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson claiming LAPD was notified two days in advance. But LAPD doubled down: “Per Chief McDonnell, the Department was not notified,” a spokesperson told CNN.

Mayor Bass backed that up. “I talked to the chief an hour ago. No, we’re not notified of anything,” she told reporters Tuesday.

The mayor of Paramount, Peggy Lemons, told CNN that her city also received no communication about ICE staging outside a local Home Depot. Officials only became aware when the protest broke out and police were urgently called to the scene.

This communication breakdown has fueled a growing concern among local leaders that federal authorities are bypassing city officials entirely — putting officers, residents, and undocumented communities at risk.

Former law enforcement officials say this kind of silence is unusual — and dangerous. “You’ve got to make sure local partners know when you’re conducting a large operation,” said John Sandweg, a former acting ICE director. “Without coordination, it can lead to safety issues, confusion, and public backlash.”

Under normal circumstances, ICE often gives police a heads-up, even in sanctuary cities where cooperation is limited. But in this case, that courtesy appears to have been skipped — or at least, that’s how city officials see it.

ICE has the authority to operate without local approval, and in jurisdictions like Los Angeles, where sanctuary laws limit police involvement in immigration enforcement, federal agents often keep their plans close to the chest.

But L.A. leaders argue that keeping local law enforcement in the dark creates more harm than good. LAPD wasn’t able to prepare staffing, de-escalation strategies, or communication channels before agents moved in and protests erupted.

As the fallout grows, the disconnect between federal and local agencies is under intense scrutiny. At the heart of the controversy is a simple question: if ICE knew trouble was coming, why didn’t they warn anyone?