Los Angeles has blown hundreds of thousands of taxpayers’ dollars on erecting hundreds of “no ICE” signs — which federal agents say they will ignore.
City Hall splashed $250,000 on 450 notices at libraries, parks, transit hubs and public lots across the region as its war with the immigration officers escalates.
But the city’s top federal prosecutor warned they hold no legal value and is a dramatic overreached from Mayor Karen Bass’s office.
The signs have sprung up at popular sites such as Los Angeles Zoo, MacArthur Park and Lafayette Park in recent weeks and cost $500 each, though the council has not released an overall price amount.
Each one is meant to send a clear warning to federal immigration agents that LA city property is off-limits for their operations.
The signs claim officers cannot stage raids, process detainees, or serve as operational bases for enforcement in those areas.
But top federal prosecutor Bill Essayli told The Post: “As the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently confirmed, states and cities do not have the authority to regulate federal agents.
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“Mayor Bass’s directive has no effect on federal law enforcement operations.”
The signs’ wording comes from Executive Directive 17, signed by Bass, which orders departments to identify vulnerable sites and post warnings within weeks.
City leaders argue the move is a response to a spike in highly visible federal operations across Los Angeles neighborhoods.
They say those actions have rattled communities, separated families, and made residents less likely to report crimes or seek help.
Bass said: “I signed Executive Directive 17 because I will not stand by while federal agents use our neighborhoods as staging grounds for fear and intimidation.
“In Los Angeles, we are setting clear boundaries: City property will not be used to carry out these raids, and we will demand transparency and accountability from anyone operating in our communities.
“Angelenos deserve to feel safe in their own city — and I will continue using every tool available to protect them, defend their rights, and push back against this dangerous federal overreach.”
City departments have been ordered to identify properties that could be used for immigration operations, lock down non-public areas like lots and garages, and report any federal activity.
LAPD officers are also being directed to document encounters with federal agents using body cameras.
Reports also show that the city is also exploring new penalties, including fees for private property owners who allow immigration enforcement on their land and disclosure rules for contractors with federal ties.
The Post reached out to Bass for a comment to ask about the pricetag and who the mayor expects to enforce the measures.
