Horseback Sweep in MacArthur Park Ignites LA Backlash
Hold up, LA just became the backdrop for a real-life Western—only this posse was decked out in tactical vests, not spurs. On July 8, 2025, video from TMZ shows rows of horse-mounted ICE and Customs and Border Protection agents, flanked by about 90 California National Guard troops, riding through MacArthur Park in what looked like an on-the-ground immigration sweep. The clip dropped on social media and instantly sparked a firestorm.
Mayor Karen Bass wasted no time calling it “absolutely outrageous” on X, noting the park was “full of life about 20 minutes earlier.” Bass slammed the deployment as a “political stunt,” accusing the federal government of staging a show of force in a predominantly immigrant neighborhood just two miles west of Downtown LA. Over on Fox Los Angeles, a Border Patrol officer shot back, “The federal government does not work for Karen Bass. We’re going to be here until that mission’s accomplished … and better get used to us now, ’cause this is going to be normal very soon.” That quote has only amplified tensions, with critics accusing the Trump administration of weaponizing immigration policy for political gain.
A Senior Department of Homeland Security official told TMZ, “We don’t comment on ongoing enforcement operations,” declining to confirm if any arrests were made during the horseback maneuver. At least officially, there were none reported by day’s end, but local activists insist the show of force was enough to intimidate families picnicking by the lake.
Governor Gavin Newsom also weighed in, vowing to protect LA’s “spirit” and “diverse communities” from what he called “this cruelty perpetuated by President Donald Trump.” Newsom’s statement on X paired with Bass’s makes California’s top political duo look ready to push back hard—setting up a classic state-versus-feds clash.
It’s worth remembering this isn’t the first time ICE operatives have roamed LA streets. Earlier in June, masked federal agents were spotted detaining a street vendor near a Home Depot, footage of which circulated widely despite bystander protests. With no clear end in sight to these high-profile sweeps, MacArthur Park could be just the opening act in a summer of enforcement standoffs.
Anyway, that’s the scoop from LA’s newest “horse patrol.” Keep your eyes peeled—because if this video is any indication, the next chapter is already galloping into view. Cool, so like, yeah, that happened.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, Fox Los Angeles, X (Twitter), California Governor’s Office
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
