Los.Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Speaks On ICE Raids at KJLH Men's Empowerment Summit
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass was invited to speak at the 2025 KJLH Men's Empowerment Summit held Saturday September 13th to address the widespread alarm about immigrant deportations as ordered by the TRUMP Administration. Mayor Bass, the first female elected to lead the city of Los Angeles, addressed the serious impact of the deportation policies on the lives of what is a large percentage of the city's population, immigrants.
Dr. Anthony Samad hosted what was described as a "fireside chat." at this 9th Annual Men's Empowerment Summit.
"This is a strong sister," observed Dr. Samad."This is oone of the few sisters I know that went from the streets to the suites." He reminded the audience of her activist past before she became an elected official.
Mayor bass offered honest insight about the challenges facing the city during her administration, from the city's homelessness crises to the impact of the ICE raids, sharing her vision for the city of Los Angeles. The popular event
"We are 9% of the population ahwihnd we are 30% of the people living on the street," noted Mayor Bass. The current White House administration came into office targeting DEI, Diversity Equity and Inclusion.."Which means black folks," the Mayor pointed out
"The ICE Raids here in L.A. are focused on Latinos. It's actually the hunting of Latinos. But in Florida, the emphasis is the Haitians." The ICE raids and the push to deport so-called "illegal" immigrants appear as part of a drive to reduce the darker population, she noted
The popular event was widely attended, with notable individuals such as singer Stevie Wonder present in the audience. Mayor Bass pointed out that it was the active efforts of Stevie Wonder that made Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday a national holiday, with his song in tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that became a forever popular anthem, "Happy Birthday To Ya."
Senior Citizens Benefits Increase 2.5% For Cost of Living Adjustment
Senior Citizens Benefits Increase 2.5% For Cost of Living Adjustment
Seniors receiving Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments will see a 2.5% increase in their payments for 2025. This is good news for many who are concerned with the increased prices for food, rent, medications, and other regular expenses. The increase in these benefits, which kicked off in January of 2025, is a Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA), was announced in October of 2024. It was based on changes in th Consumer Index.
Many Seniors had expressed alarm at the rumors that their Social Security payments would be cut and their benefits would be decreased. They are instead realizing. a cost of living increase.
IS NEW WHITE HOUSE IMMIGRANT POLICY DECREASING THE UNHOUSED?
WASHINGTON, DC - The White House Office of Communications issued a statement back in February of 2025 regarding the decreased request for shelters for the unhoused as a result of the Trump Administration's enforcement of deportation of illegal immigrants. Today, those that run shelters for the unhoused are taking a look at how much the demand for shelter has been affected by the Trump Administration's policies.
While mass deportation efforts are being met with protests in some cities, various agencies that provide emergency housing are seeing one particular result of mass deportations: a major decrease in the unhoused population. As stated by the White House Office of Communications:
Two years ago, U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered 1,500 illegal immigrants every day in the El Paso sector alone — now, they’re seeing roughly 80 per day amid President Donald J. Trump’s unprecedented effort to secure the homeland. Now, organizations that once facilitated the invasion of illegal immigrants are finding out that sheltering them is no longer necessary.
President Trump addresses members of the Press regarding the policies now being enforced to identify illegal immigrants and arrange for their deportation. Shelters in cities across America were at one time filled with those who were fleeing Venezuela and other countries, many of whom were said to be undocumented. (file photo)
“It’s because migrants are not coming across the border right now,” one local reporter said.
* Catholic Charities says they see only “zero to three families” at their McAllen, Texas, shelter and cut staff in Dallas due to the lack of need.* A Brownsville, Texas, facility shut its doors due to the “sudden decrease in asylum seekers” over the past month.
* A migrant shelter network in El Paso, Texas, says just one or two of its 20 shelters will remain open.
* Pima County, Arizona, shut down two migrant shelters due to the lack of demand in the aftermath of President Trump's inauguration.In San Diego, California, a shelter “has not had a single migrant walk through its doors since President Trump took office” and has since closed altogether.
* n New York City, a network of shelters that once housed thousands of illegal immigrants have been closed.
* In northern Mexico, local news reports the flow of illegal immigrants seeking to enter the United States has “decreased enormously” — with facilities that once held thousands of illegals now seeing just a tiny fraction.
Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of the Council on American Islamic Relations - Chicago (CAIR - Chicago) stated that the statements by Illinois Senator Sara Feigenholtz were some of the most extreme he had ever heard from a public official and could incite hate crimes against Muslim such as .the recent murder of a 6 -year old Palestinian American in Illinois.
"We call on her to apologize and resign from office," he said. CAIR is also calling on Illinois Senate President Don Harmon to remove her from committee leadership positions.
Dilara Sayeed, President of the Muslim Civic Coalition said, "We have lost complete trust and faith" in the leadership of Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, adding that her remarks could put her Muslim constituents "in harms way" of hate crimes.
"Her actions may be putting our city's residents in danger," she said.
Marty Levin, of Jewish Voices For Peace-Chicago quoted,"What is hateful to you do not do unto others," which he said comes from the Jewish tradition. He noted that his mother fled Russia to escape genocide.
"Words do matter. This is a time when we must hold all of us accountable and hold our elected officials to a higher standard."
"Sen.Sara Feigenholtz words and actions were not words of political disagreement. They were words that are hateful."