On Christmas Eve, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass met with families affected by immigration raids to give them toys and other essential items donated by residents, city employees, and community organizations.

“In many places they are giving away gifts, but I haven't gone to ask for them because of fear of immigration. We live in terror. So this is the first time I'm going to receive toys for my children,” she said Andrea Lopez, a Mexican immigrant, wiped away tears, overcome with emotion. A mother of four children, ages 19, 16, and two, plus a six-month-old baby, she said that since the immigration raids began in Los Angeles, her family's financial situation has become much more difficult because her husband, who works as a cook, is the only one who goes out to work. The aggressive raids by the Federal Administration during President Trump's second term have hit Andrea's family hard, as two of her cousins ??have been detained by federal immigration agents. "Gus, 32, was deported a month ago; my cousin Coque is already under arrest in Georgia, and we're fighting to prevent his deportation," she said, distressed. As a result, she commented that everyone in her household is emotionally affected, and their lives are filled with fear and anxiety. "It's even worse when we get the news that there are raids happening around here." "Or over there. I'm breastfeeding, and it's hard to feed my baby with everything that's going on," she said. She called on President Trump to stop the raids. “We need to live without anxiety, without stress.” But amid the constant uncertainty, Andrea experienced moments of happiness when she received toys for her children from Mayor Bass. "My children are going to have presents. We're going to be happy," she said, smiling. Mayor Bass helped pack some of the gifts for the immigrant families.

“These are Christmas gifts and school supplies, especially for immigrant families who feel they can't leave their homes to do traditional holiday shopping,” the mayor said.

She noted that they are working in partnership with many organizations to deliver the gifts to the communities.

“We organized this distribution of supplies and toys in the hope that their holidays will be as positive as possible; and this is an example of what we will do to ensure the safety of all Angelenos and to make them understand that, regardless of where they come from, when, or why, if they are here in Los Angeles, they are Angelenos, and we will do everything we can to protect them.”

She stated that it has been a long year for Los Angeles due to all the trauma that so many Angelenos have experienced, individually and as a city, due to the devastation left by the Pacific Palisades fires and the immigration raids.

“There are Angelenos who, because of the raids, have missing family members. But there are also Angelenos who, because of the fires, unfortunately, they lost their lives.”

He said that although they have nearly 400 homes under construction in Palisades, and that is progress, people are still not in their homes and continue to deal with the pain and trauma of not only missing their homes, but also their holiday traditions, their family gatherings, and their sense of community and belonging.

“At the end of a difficult year, I want to say that I will not rest until every resident of Palisades is in their home, and also until the raids are over.”

He stated that he is hopeful that 2026 will be a great year, with events beginning in February with the All-Star basketball game; In May, with the US Women's Open golf tournament, where she hopes to see girls from all over the city playing golf. "And when the World Cup comes around, eight matches will be played here, and it will last 40 days with community celebrations in neighborhoods all over the city, and the biggest party to watch the matches and a fan festival at the Coliseum."

So she optimistically said that much joy awaits us in the coming year.

“Just as we came together and supported each other in 2025, we will continue to do so and have a successful 2026.”

But how is Mayor Bass's administration preparing for potentially even more aggressive immigration enforcement operations next year in Los Angeles, especially during the World Cup?

“I certainly hope and believe that the administration wants the World Cup, in which we will be the center of attention worldwide, to go very well and not be marred by masked men chasing people through the streets of Los Angeles.”

Therefore, He said they will do everything possible to collaborate with the administration and ensure that this does not happen.

“Frankly, Angelenos should be proud, because we stood together when our city was attacked, and these raids continue daily. Perhaps not with the same media attention as in June and July, but people are still being harassed in stores like Home Depot, detained at car washes,and so on.”

He believed the administration thought these actions would divide the city, but they did not succeed.

“This is just one example of the generosity of Angelenos that we have seen since the beginning of the year with the wildfires and when the raids began; we did not waver for an instant. We stood together and demonstrated in a concrete way how we want to help each other.”

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