Immigration Agents Swarm Doorstep Of Newsom Event Announcing CA Redistricting Battle

LOS ANGELES, CA — Federal agents conducted an immigration-enforcement raid in downtown Los Angeles Thursday just steps from where Gov. Gavin Newsom announced plans for a Nov. 4 election seeking voter approval for a new Congressional map drawn to try to win Democrats five more U.S. House seats in 2026.

Speaking at the Japanese American Cultural Center in Little Tokyo, Newsom announced plans to hold a special election and quickly redraw California's congressional districts — countering a similar proposal pushed by the Trump administration along with ally Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

RELATED: CA To Hold Redistricting Election To Counter Trump's Texas Bid

On the streets outside the event, the U.S. Border Patrol conducted roving immigration enforcement operations in the area and one person was taken into custody, NBC Los Angeles reported, citing Sector Commander Gregory K. Bovino.

TRUMP’S PRIVATE ARMY IS ILLEGALLY ON PRIVATE PROPERTY!!!! WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED BY THIS WEAK LITTLE MAN!!! https://t.co/13nJL6JRvG
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) August 14, 2025

Newsom addressed the operation in his speech, which was attended by Democratic leaders including Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff Rep. Maxine Waters and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

"Right outside, at this exact moment, (there are) dozens and dozens of ICE agents," Newsom said. ""You think it's coincidental? Donald Trump and his minions ... decided coincidentally or not that this was a location to advance ICE arrests."

The governor's press team utilized the moment to continue a social-media blitz about the redistricting effort, which included posts mimicking Trump's all-caps style, name-calling and hyperbole.

“BORDER PATROL HAS SHOWED UP AT OUR BIG BEAUTIFUL PRESS CONFERENCE!" Newsom's press office wrote on X,. "TRUMP’S PRIVATE ARMY IS ILLEGALLY ON PRIVATE PROPERTY!!!! WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED BY THIS WEAK LITTLE MAN!!!"

NBC and KTLA reported armed and masked agents were seen walking by the nearby complex of federal buildings and walking with a man who had been placed in handcuffs.

Bass said the move was "a complete provocation."

"There is no way this was a coincidence," she said. "There is no way this was a coincidence," Mayor Karen Bass said.

California's Democratic Supermajority To Pursue Partisan Redistricting

Amid the political provocations, Newsom stood with other prominent Democratic leaders Thursday to announce that the state will move forward with a partisan plan to redraw congressional maps in an effort to help his party win five more U.S. House seats in 2026.

The move is a direct response to a Republican-led effort in Texas, pushed by President Donald Trump as his party seeks to maintain its slim House majority after the midterm elections. Texas lawmakers are considering a new map that would help them send five more Republicans to Washington, but Democrats have so far halted a vote by leaving the state to prevent their GOP colleagues from meeting Trump’s demands.

“We can’t stand back and watch this democracy disappear district by district all across the country," Newsom said Thursday as he called for a Nov. 4 special election to put the new maps before voters.

State lawmakers must officially declare the special election, which they plan to do next week.

The Democrats' proposed maps still haven't been released. That's expected Friday. Then lawmakers plan to quickly approve them next week. Democrats hold supermajorities in both chambers.

Democrats signaled Thursday that they plan to make the campaign about more than maps, tying it explicitly to the fate of American democracy and as an opportunity for voters to reject Trump's policies.

“Donald Trump, you have poked the bear and we will punch back,” Newsom, who is seen as a possible 2028 presidential contender, said at a news conference with other Democrats.

The Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report.