Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass canceled her scheduled appearance at the six-month anniversary event for the Palisades and Eaton Fires, opting instead to attend and attempt to halt an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid, Breitbart reports. Bass had been expected to join Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator Alex Padilla, and other officials at the commemoration, but her absence was only described at the event as due to an “emergent event,” which was later revealed to be the immigration operation.

According to Breitbart, “Under Bass, Los Angeles has spent more on homeless people than on firefighting. Lately, she has become obsessed with championing the cause of anti-ICE protests, even though they have attacked law enforcement — including the Los Angeles Police Department. Bass has blamed President Donald Trump for riots in the city, and has essentially defending the riots by saying they will stop when the anti-ICE raids also stop.”

The decision to skip the fire anniversary for the anti-ICE protest drew attention, especially given ongoing scrutiny of Bass’s handling of the Palisades Fire. She was previously criticized for being out of the country when the fire broke out and has faced political backlash, including a recall effort, over her administration’s response and resource allocation during the disaster.

Governor Newsom, meanwhile, proceeded with the anniversary event, where he acknowledged delays in local permitting for rebuilding efforts and called for accelerated progress. The Palisades Fire, which erupted in January, was one of the most destructive in Los Angeles history, leading to significant property loss and displacement of residents.

The Department of Justice has recently filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles, claiming that its “sanctuary city” policy unfairly discriminates against federal law enforcement. As she seeks re-election, Bass seems to have decided that aligning with the progressive wing of her party is more important for her political future than focusing on the concerns of local residents.