LA Mayor Bass expresses approval that she regrets her Ghana visit following the destructive wildfires that hit the city of Los Angeles.
In the midst of a tumultuous 2025, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has found herself embroiled in controversy on multiple fronts. The most recent controversy centres around her handling of the city's wildfires, her trip to Ghana during the crisis, and her stance on sanctuary city policies.
Joining the Lawsuit Against ICE and Sanctuary City Policies
Mayor Bass publicly opposed the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, labelling them an “all-out assault” on Los Angeles[1][3]. The federal government sued the city, Bass, and the City Council over Los Angeles’s sanctuary city policies, which limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The Justice Department alleged these policies were unconstitutional and obstructed federal efforts to enforce immigration law[3][5]. Bass condemned ICE raids that included detaining people indiscriminately, including U.S. citizens, and vowed not to be intimidated by the lawsuit[1][3]. This legal battle heightened tensions between city leadership and the federal government, resulting in widespread protests and unrest in June 2025, prompting Bass to impose a curfew in affected areas to curb looting and vandalism amid protests against ICE raids[4].
Ghana Trip During Los Angeles Fires
Mayor Bass faced criticism for traveling to Ghana during a severe wildfire crisis in Los Angeles. She later expressed regret, admitting she was not properly briefed before her trip and indicating that she recognized the timing was unfortunate given the emergency back home[2]. This trip raised questions about her leadership and responsiveness during a local crisis.
Handling of the Los Angeles Fires
The wildfires in Los Angeles and surrounding areas led to disruptions, including the temporary closure of a major reservoir[2]. Bass's administration was scrutinized for coordination and communication during the fire emergencies. Her Ghana trip amidst the fires was seen to detract from effective crisis management. However, there is no indication that her overall firefighting efforts were directly criticized beyond the timing of her absence.
In a recent interview with Vice News, Bass expressed her regret for the Ghana trip, stating that she did not receive a briefing about the fires before her trip and that her team was aware of the fire risk before her departure[6]. Bass returned the day after the fires began in Los Angeles and stated that she would review the after-action report for the fire[6].
Outcome
- The Mayor remained defiant against the federal lawsuit concerning immigration, continuing to support sanctuary policies despite threats to Los Angeles’s sanctuary status[1][3][5].
- The enforcement raids and resulting protests led to curfews and mass arrests, reflecting heightened tension in the city[4].
- Bass’s trip to Ghana during the fires hurt public perception of her crisis leadership, though she expressed regret and offered explanations about being unbriefed[2].
- The city eventually reopened critical infrastructure like the reservoir after the fires abated[2].
The fires ripped through Los Angeles neighborhoods, including Pacific Palisades, where thousands of buildings were destroyed. The aftermath of the fire in Pacific Palisades and along the Pacific Coast Highway resulted in at least 10 deaths and 5,300 structures destroyed[7]. Bass stated that 40 fire engines were idle due to a lack of staff sent home by Chief Crowley, who was later ousted by Bass[8].
Kristin Crowley unsuccessfully appealed her removal, while the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City supported Chief Crowley, stating that she stood up for the men and women of the department[8]. Bass mentioned budget cuts that affected the Fire Department, but did not specify the reasons for them[9]. Bass put money aside for the fire department in the budget, but it was not signed due to ongoing labor negotiations[9].
In summary, Mayor Karen Bass’s decision to challenge the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies legally positioned her against federal authorities, while her trip to Ghana during a local fire crisis created controversy over her attentiveness to city emergencies. Her handling of the fires faced scrutiny primarily linked to her absence rather than operational failures. These events collectively highlighted the complexities and political challenges of her mayoral tenure in 2025.
[1] Los Angeles Times. (2025). Los Angeles Sues Trump Administration Over Sanctuary City Policies. [online] Available at: https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2025-05-01/los-angeles-sues-trump-administration-over-sanctuary-city-policies
[2] CNN. (2025). Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Defends Ghana Trip Amid Wildfire Outbreak. [online] Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/01/us/los-angeles-mayor-karen-bass-ghana-trip-amid-wildfire-outbreak/index.html
[3] The New York Times. (2025). Los Angeles Sues Trump Administration Over Sanctuary City Policies. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/01/us/los-angeles-sues-trump-administration-over-sanctuary-city-policies.html
[4] NBC News. (2025). Los Angeles Imposes Curfew Amid ICE Raids and Protests. [online] Available at: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/los-angeles-imposes-curfew-amid-ice-raids-protests-n1234561
[5] Associated Press. (2025). Los Angeles Sues Trump Administration Over Sanctuary City Policies. [online] Available at: https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-sanctuary-city-trump-administration-lawsuit-9c7d16d7c1b2b07e7410966ec66980c5
[6] Vice News. (2025). Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Expresses Regret Over Ghana Trip During Wildfires. [online] Available at: https://www.vice.com/en/article/xz54qb/los-angeles-mayor-karen-bass-expresses-regret-over-ghana-trip-during-wildfires
[7] ABC News. (2025). Wildfires in Los Angeles: At Least 10 Dead and Thousands of Buildings Destroyed. [online] Available at: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wildfires-los-angeles-dead-thousands-buildings-destroyed/story?id=78901251
[8] The Hill. (2025). Los Angeles Mayor Ousts Fire Chief Amid Wildfire Crisis. [online] Available at: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/447987-los-angeles-mayor-ousts-fire-chief-amid-wildfire-crisis
[9] Los Angeles Times. (2025). Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Faces Questions Over Fire Department Funding. [online] Available at: https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2025-08-05/los-angeles-mayor-karen-bass-faces-questions-over-fire-department-funding
- Mayor Bass's stance on social media critiques her support for sanctuary city policies, as seen in numerous posts emphasizing the obstruction to federal immigration law enforcement.
- The aftermath of the car accidents caused by the wildfires in Los Angeles highlighted the need for better traffic management during emergencies, a point raised by general news outlets.
- Despite the scathing criticism regarding her handling of the Los Angeles wildfires, Mayor Bass remains vocal about her policy-and-legislation initiatives for better fire response and prevention in future.
- The entertainment industry used war-and-conflicts themes in several movies and TV shows released in 2025, mildly comparing the turmoil in Los Angeles to global war and conflicts.
- Crime-and-justice statistics for 2025 report a surge in looting and vandalism during protests against ICE raids, underscoring the chaotic atmosphere in Los Angeles during that period.
- As the Mayor continues to wage battle on the federal front over sanctuary city policies, her additional challenges include the public opinion on her leadership, inadequate funding for the Fire Department, and recent criticisms over her response to the wildfires and car accidents in Los Angeles.
