Cost of Anti-ICE Protests in Los Angeles Is Estimated at Nearly $20 Million

Around 90 percent of the amount is for expenses related to law enforcement, the city controller said.

Violent protests in downtown Los Angeles over recent federal immigration enforcement operations have cost the city nearly $20 million so far, the city’s accountant announced on June 16.

Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia tallied up the latest costs related to the June protests and released a video explaining the numbers.

“The estimated preliminary cost so far through June 16 is $19.7 million,” Mejia said.

The demonstrations against U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Los Angeles started on June 6 and continued throughout the following week before diminishing on the 10th day.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass instituted a curfew in the downtown area last week to quell an outbreak of violence that resulted in the torching of Waymo cars, homemade explosives being launched at law enforcement, large-scale looting of shops and stores, and widespread graffiti.

“The graffiti that is just blanketing a number of blocks has been extensive,” Bass said in a news conference on June 11.

Bass called on business, community, and faith leaders to come together to discuss how to clean up the city ahead of World Cup events scheduled through July 10. The mayor posted a video showing her helping to remove graffiti from one wall on June 13.

About 87 percent of the estimated total cost relates to the Los Angeles Police Department, which totaled $17.2 million, Mejia said.

Public property damage and cleanup cost the city another $1.2 million. Of that, $86,000 was attributed to graffiti removal costs.

According to the city controller, the total does not include the cost of future lawsuits or liability claims for the city.

By Jill McLaughlin

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