As the leader of a community safety and justice organization, and a devoted Angeleno, I am appalled by the federal government’s blatant abuse of power and betrayal of the fundamental values of justice, dignity, and human rights that is permeating our city. Throughout the summer, ICE agents have terrorized Los Angeles communities by unlawfully detaining and disappearing immigrants (and anyone even considered to be) — strengthened by the support of National Guard troops and complacency of local law enforcement.
With the recent passage of the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” the federal government stands to be empowered with even more unchecked power and resources for its immigration and border-patrol activities — for example, an ICE budget that is larger than “most of the world’s militaries.”
Yet there’s another alarming provision in the bill that has scarcely been reported on: $1.6 billion allocated for security and planning for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The bill provides little clarity on how exactly this funding is intended to be spent — but given the current encroachment of the federal government in our city, we can almost certainly guess.
Recently, federal agents raided MacArthur Park heavily armed with rifles, horses and tanks in what has been likened to both a “political stunt” and a “reality TV spectacle.” While it appears no arrests were made, the fear and intimidation throughout the community was palpable. Families playing in the park had to flee with their children. Grocery shoppers dropped everything to rush home. The uncertainty of what’s to come has made leaving the home a life-threatening undertaking for many community members.
To an outsider, the dominant narrative perpetuated by President Trump and his allies makes it easy to believe that Los Angeles is a danger zone in need of a federal chaperone to step in and save us. The truth is much different. The real danger is the federal government’s attempt to threaten our communities and hamper the momentum we’ve generated in making our streets safer.
Only two days after the MacArthur Park incident, it was reported that Los Angeles is on pace to experience the lowest homicide rate in nearly 60 years. This achievement coincides with an influx of funding invested in community-led safety efforts from both public and private entities, particularly in 2024.
Data released earlier this year showed that last year there was a 45% decrease in gang-related homicides in sites funded by the Mayor’s Office of Gang Reduction & Youth Development (GRYD) compared to 2023, with a 56% decrease from 2022. Mayor Karen Bass, in addition to other city leaders, credited the work of community violence intervention workers (also known as peacemakers) for this decline.
This isn’t just about numbers — it’s about lives saved and safety for all Angelenos.
Peacemakers work on the frontlines to prevent and interrupt cycles of violence through proactive neighborhood outreach, crisis response, conflict mediation, and case management. They are distinctly qualified to lead this work because of their strong “License to Operate” within communities, which allows them to engage those most at risk of perpetuating violence and de-escalate tensions that would otherwise cause harm.
I’ve seen the effects of this work firsthand in Los Angeles over the years led by dedicated community members who simply want to make our streets safer. Through community violence intervention, an unarmed crisis response pilot program, and other community-based safety strategies, Angelenos have shown that we’re best equipped to create safety for ourselves.
If Trump actually cared about reducing violent crime and making cities safer ahead of the upcoming games, he would invest in the kind of strategies that work to achieve this. He would lead his administration to prioritize (not cut) community-led safety that is lasting, inspires hope, and effectively brings crime rates and homicides down.
If we want true safety in 2026, 2028 and beyond, we need to invest in the people who are working on the frontlines and committed to keeping everyone safe. We know this isn’t likely to come from the current administration, but I remain hopeful that through collective action and advocacy, Angelenos will be able to realize this vision. It’s rooted in the fabric of our city.
Fernando Rejón is the executive director of the Urban Peace Institute, an organization that advances safety and justice by building community-led alternatives that end the cycle of mass incarceration and ensure freedom from violence. He has over 22 years of experience in the nonprofit sector.