LA Mayoral Candidate Nithya Raman Faces Scrutiny Over ICE Protest Response

Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman has stated she would fire LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell if elected, citing his response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in June 2025. However, leaked photos suggest Raman was at a bar during the protests that followed the raids. The images show Raman at The Black Cat bar on Sunset Boulevard on June 6, 2025, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., the same period when thousands protested ICE activity in downtown Los Angeles, leading to confrontations with officers.

During a 100-day campaign event, Raman criticized Chief McDonnell, stating his response to the ICE raids did not "meet the moment" and that a new chief should "respect and honor" immigrants who are "under attack." She also proposed an audit of officers to ensure compliance with the city's sanctuary ordinance and advocated for increasing unarmed crisis response teams instead of hiring more officers.

The Los Angeles Police Protective League, representing LAPD officers, criticized Raman's actions. "On the same day Mayor Bass was on the ground in MacArthur Park deescalating what could have been an explosive situation, Nithya Raman was in Margaritaville looking like she didn’t have a care in the world," the union stated. The union also pointed to Raman's past votes against hiring more officers and firefighters.

According to LAPD statistics cited in the report, homicides dropped 17%, rapes by nearly 6%, robberies by almost 5%, and aggravated assaults by nearly 4% over the past year. Property crime decreased by almost 11%, with a 26% drop in burglaries. The report notes that LAPD policy prohibits officers from participating in immigration enforcement, and officers expressed concern that removing McDonnell, who has led the department for nearly two years, could negatively impact morale and recruitment efforts, especially with the 2028 Olympics approaching.

Raman's campaign stated she had attended an event for 90 minutes before going to the bar. Federal agents made 44 administrative immigration arrests during the June 2025 operation. Protests continued for 40 days, and Mayor Bass implemented an overnight curfew on June 10, 2025.

Political consultant Michael Trujillo commented on the contrast between Raman's statements and the photos, suggesting her actions indicated a lack of genuine commitment to the issues. George Francisco, a member of the LAPD’s Pacific Community-Police Advisory Board, suggested Raman's focus on unarmed response might be at the expense of the sworn officer force. McDonnell previously served as Los Angeles County sheriff and Long Beach police chief.