The US Department of Justice announced on 30/6 that it had filed a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass, and the city council over policies that "interfere with federal immigration law".

Attorney General Pam Bondi alleged that Los Angeles' immigrant protection policies are "illegal under federal law" and contribute to recent "lawlessness, riots, looting, and vandalism" in the city.

ICE agents and National Guard soldiers stand guard at the entrance to a federal building in Los Angeles, California on 10/6. Photo: AP

ICE agents and National Guard soldiers stand guard at the entrance to a federal building in Los Angeles, California on 10/6. Photo: AP

Bill Essayli, a federal prosecutor in California, said the lawsuit would hold Los Angeles "accountable for deliberately obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration law".

"By assisting deported aliens in evading federal law, Los Angeles' illegal and discriminatory policies have contributed to a lawless and unsafe environment. This lawsuit will end this," Essayli said.

The city of Los Angeles and the state of California have not yet responded. The Justice Department has previously sued Chicago and several other cities over similar immigrant protection policies.

Los Angeles is a sanctuary city for immigrants and has clashed with the Trump administration during its recent crackdown on undocumented immigrants. Tensions escalated after the federal government deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles to quell protests against immigration arrests, despite opposition from California's state government.

California Governor Gavin Newsom called the deployment of troops "unnecessary," as the protests were largely peaceful. Newsom has taken legal action to prevent the National Guard from operating in California, but has so far been unsuccessful.

Ngoc Anh (According to AFP)