Senator Bernie Moreno has called for California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to be subpoenaed to testify before Congress regarding their handling of recent riots in Los Angeles. The unrest erupted over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the city.

According to Breitbart, the Ohio Republican made this request during a Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee hearing on Tuesday, expressing grave concerns about the officials' responses to the violence.

The riots began after ICE agents arrested criminal illegal aliens in Los Angeles, prompting protesters to take to the streets with Mexican flags. Demonstrators reportedly assaulted law enforcement officers, set vehicles ablaze, and damaged property throughout the city.

Federal and local tensions escalate

President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard and additional federal law enforcement to Los Angeles in an attempt to restore order. This decision has created significant friction with state and local officials.

Governor Newsom responded by filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the National Guard deployment. He has also reportedly challenged border czar Thomas Homan to arrest him over his handling of the situation.

Mayor Bass has publicly criticized federal immigration enforcement actions, telling CNN, "If immigration raids had not happened here, we would not have the disorder that went on last night." She attributed the unrest to the city's "rapid response network" that mobilizes when ICE operations are detected.

Senator's congressional testimony demand

Senator Moreno expressed deep concern about the officials' positions during Tuesday's committee hearing, suggesting their responses were inadequate and potentially dangerous.

"You have the Governor and the Mayor saying the President of the United States is doing too much to protect businesses and protect their own civilians," Moreno stated during the hearing. "How are we not heading towards a complete and utter disaster?"

The senator specifically requested that Bass and Newsom appear before the committee to explain their actions and outline how their approach would differ for future events, particularly with major international gatherings planned for 2026 and 2028.

Ongoing immigration enforcement debate

The Los Angeles riots represent the latest flashpoint in the contentious national debate over immigration enforcement policies and the role of sanctuary jurisdictions.

Bass has defended the protesters, suggesting that ICE operations are the root cause of the unrest rather than the violent response from demonstrators. She has characterized federal immigration enforcement as creating "a recipe for pandemonium that is completely unnecessary."

Meanwhile, federal officials maintain that ICE agents were simply enforcing existing immigration laws by targeting criminal illegal aliens for arrest and deportation, activities that fall squarely within their authorized duties.

Political ramifications unfold

The confrontation between federal, state, and local authorities highlights deepening political divisions over immigration enforcement in the United States.

Republican lawmakers like Moreno are positioning themselves as defenders of law and order, supporting President Trump's deployment of federal resources to quell the violence. They've criticized Democratic officials for what they characterize as prioritizing protection of illegal immigrants over public safety.

Democratic leaders, including Newsom and Bass, have framed the issue differently, suggesting that aggressive immigration enforcement tactics are unnecessarily provocative and counterproductive to maintaining peace in diverse communities.