Los Angeles mayoral candidate and former reality television star Spencer Pratt says his administration would cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, if he is elected mayor — a sharp departure from the policies of current Mayor Karen Bass.
Pratt made the remarks during a campaign kickoff event at Don Antonio’s restaurant in West Los Angeles, where he outlined what he described as a public-safety–focused and “responsible” approach to immigration enforcement. Video from the event shows Pratt criticizing Bass for what he called open defiance of federal law for political purposes.
According to Pratt, the issue facing Los Angeles is not immigration enforcement itself, but the refusal of city leadership to work within existing law. He argued that Bass’s posture has created instability, confusion, and unnecessary tension across the city.
Pratt said that if elected, he would work directly with the federal government in a firm but humane manner, with an emphasis on removing violent criminals while allowing law-abiding families to live without fear. He stressed that cooperation with federal authorities does not require cruelty or chaos, but rather clarity, accountability, and leadership.
“This approach isn’t extreme,” Pratt said, describing it as common sense and long overdue for a city he believes has reached a breaking point.
The candidate also used the event to express gratitude for the support his campaign has received so far, saying many Angelenos are frustrated with years of dysfunction, corruption, and failed leadership. Pratt said Los Angeles does not need more political dealmaking or backroom arrangements, but officials willing to show up, take responsibility, and deliver results.
Pratt formally announced his run for mayor last month after his home was destroyed in the devastating Palisades Fire. Since then, he has been outspoken in blaming city leadership for what he calls a catastrophic failure in emergency preparedness and response.
Last week, Pratt publicly called for the firing of top Los Angeles Fire Department officials, as well as accountability from city leadership, following fires that destroyed thousands of structures and left at least a dozen people dead. He said there can be no moving forward without a full reckoning of what went wrong and who is responsible.
Los Angeles has also recently been at the center of controversy over immigration enforcement and federal authority. Police Chief Jim McDonnell announced the department would not enforce a new state law banning federal officers from wearing masks while performing their duties, citing concerns about unnecessary conflict between armed agencies. A federal judge later blocked the law.
Meanwhile, anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles have repeatedly escalated into violence and property destruction, as demonstrators attempt to obstruct lawful federal operations.
Pratt’s campaign positions him as a direct challenge to the city’s current leadership, promising cooperation with federal authorities, accountability for public safety failures, and an end to what he describes as ideological governance at the expense of residents.
