Karen Bass demands an apology after Nithya Raman says Los Angeles was the "gold standard" on immigration noncooperation in the Daryl Gates era
Nithya Raman said Los Angeles was the "gold standard" on noncooperation with immigration enforcement in the Daryl Gates era. Karen Bass called that a lie and demanded an apology. Raman said she meant Special Order 40 and accused Bass of twisting her words.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
Daryl Gates led the LAPD from 1978 to 1992 and resigned amid criticism over police abuse and his slow response to the 1992 riots that followed the acquittal of four officers in the beating of Rodney King. In 1979 he issued Special Order 40, which bars officers from stopping people for the sole purpose of determining their immigration status. According to the Los Angeles Times, the order did not prevent the LAPD from working with federal immigration agencies, and Gates told the City Council in 2008 that an officer who brings in someone believed to be undocumented is supposed to notify immigration authorities. Raman's criticism of the department cites a Times report that the LAPD sends booking fingerprints to a national law enforcement database that ICE can access. On October 15 an LAPD spokesperson said Special Order 40 has never been rewritten or rescinded and that officers do not engage in civil immigration enforcement, and the department said it had found no evidence that its license plate reader data had been shared with any immigration enforcement agency. Bass is seeking a second term against Raman in the November 3, 2026 runoff.
People in this case
Nithya RamanDirectly involved
Karen BassDirectly involved
Timeline
4 timeline entries on this page. Dates: October 13, 2026 to October 15, 2026
October 2026
Raman invokes the Daryl Gates era in the mayoral debate
Incident
In the NBC4 and Telemundo 52 debate, Raman says the LAPD has reportedly shared data with ICE and that the city used to be the gold standard in noncooperation with immigration enforcement under the era of Daryl Gates.
[01]Full debate: Karen Bass vs. Nithya Raman for LA mayor
NBC4 Los Angeles upload of the full October 13, 2026 mayoral debate between Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilmember Nithya Raman, held with Telemundo 52 three weeks before the November 3 runoff.
Full debate: Karen Bass vs. Nithya Raman for LA mayorRaman's answer on her campaign's repost and on ICE at about 16:13-17:09; the Daryl Gates line is at about 16:53-17:02Bass calls the remark a lie and asks Raman to apologize
Reaction
At her campaign headquarters with about two dozen Black community leaders, Bass says it was a lie to portray Gates as the gold standard for Latino residents and calls on Raman to retract the remark and apologize.
[02]Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times report on Mayor Karen Bass's October 15, 2026 news conference about Nithya Raman's debate remark on former LAPD chief Daryl Gates, Raman's video and written responses, and the LAPD's statement on Special Order 40.
Bass and Raman trade accusations over former LAPD chief Daryl Gates · Los Angeles TimesOpening paragraphs on Bass's October 15 news conference and Raman's response; closing paragraphs on Bass's answer about LAPD data sharingLAPD says Special Order 40 remains in force
An LAPD spokesperson says Special Order 40 has never been rewritten or rescinded and that officers do not engage in civil immigration enforcement. The department says it has found no evidence that its license plate reader data were shared with an immigration enforcement agency.
[02]Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times report on Mayor Karen Bass's October 15, 2026 news conference about Nithya Raman's debate remark on former LAPD chief Daryl Gates, Raman's video and written responses, and the LAPD's statement on Special Order 40.
Bass and Raman trade accusations over former LAPD chief Daryl Gates · Los Angeles TimesOpening paragraphs on Bass's October 15 news conference and Raman's response; closing paragraphs on Bass's answer about LAPD data sharingRaman posts a video accusing Bass of twisting her words
Reaction
Raman calls Gates a racist police chief, says Bass is twisting her words, and repeats her questions about LAPD cooperation with ICE. She says she used the phrase gold standard to describe Special Order 40.
[03]Nithya Raman
Raman's campaign posted this short video on October 15, 2026, while Bass was holding her news conference. Raman speaks to the camera about the debate exchange and LAPD cooperation with ICE.
Mayor Bass keeps dodging the question: why is the LAPD collaborating with ICE? · Nithya Raman74-second video; the Daryl Gates passage is at 0:22-0:43[02]Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times report on Mayor Karen Bass's October 15, 2026 news conference about Nithya Raman's debate remark on former LAPD chief Daryl Gates, Raman's video and written responses, and the LAPD's statement on Special Order 40.
Bass and Raman trade accusations over former LAPD chief Daryl Gates · Los Angeles TimesOpening paragraphs on Bass's October 15 news conference and Raman's response; closing paragraphs on Bass's answer about LAPD data sharing
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
Los Angeles was the gold standard in noncooperation with immigration enforcement in the era of Police Chief Daryl Gates.
What is disputed
Raman made the remark in the October 13 debate while criticizing LAPD data sharing with ICE under Bass. Bass called it a lie to portray Gates as the gold standard for the city's Latino residents and said he inflicted serious harm on the African American community. Raman said she was describing Special Order 40, which Gates issued in 1979. According to the Los Angeles Times, the order did not stop the LAPD from working with federal immigration agencies.
Sources (3)
- Full debate: Karen Bass vs. Nithya Raman for LA mayorRaman's answer on her campaign's repost and on ICE at about 16:13-17:09; the Daryl Gates line is at about 16:53-17:02
- Bass and Raman trade accusations over former LAPD chief Daryl Gates · Los Angeles TimesOpening paragraphs on Bass's October 15 news conference and Raman's response; closing paragraphs on Bass's answer about LAPD data sharing
- Mayor Bass keeps dodging the question: why is the LAPD collaborating with ICE? · Nithya Raman74-second video; the Daryl Gates passage is at 0:22-0:43
Disputed claim
The LAPD has been sharing data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement under Mayor Karen Bass.
What is disputed
Raman cites a Los Angeles Times report that the LAPD sends booking fingerprints to a national law enforcement database that ICE can access, and press reports of searches made on ICE's behalf. Bass said she does not believe the LAPD is sharing information with ICE, and that the sharing she was concerned about involved Flock cameras, a contract the city is not renewing. The LAPD said it had found no evidence that its license plate reader data had been shared with any immigration enforcement agency.
Sources (3)
- Full debate: Karen Bass vs. Nithya Raman for LA mayorRaman's answer on her campaign's repost and on ICE at about 16:13-17:09; the Daryl Gates line is at about 16:53-17:02
- Bass and Raman trade accusations over former LAPD chief Daryl Gates · Los Angeles TimesOpening paragraphs on Bass's October 15 news conference and Raman's response; closing paragraphs on Bass's answer about LAPD data sharing
- Mayor Bass keeps dodging the question: why is the LAPD collaborating with ICE? · Nithya Raman74-second video; the Daryl Gates passage is at 0:22-0:43
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
2 matching responses. Newest first.
Nithya RamanLos Angeles City Councilmember and candidate for mayor, in a campaign videoDirectly involvedBefore this statement
Raman's campaign posted the video on October 15 while Bass was holding her news conference. Raman opens by saying Bass owes Angelenos answers about LAPD cooperation with ICE and that she asked Bass pointed questions about it at the debate.
"Now, instead of answering those questions and ensuring that we can rebuild trust with our law enforcement, Mayor Bass is trying to twist my words. It is completely unacceptable. Let me be very clear. Daryl Gates was a racist, abhorrent, militaristic police chief."
Challenged the characterizationResponding to: Los Angeles was the gold standard in noncooperation with immigration enforcement in the era of Police Chief Daryl Gates.
Full statement and sources
In a campaign video, Raman says Bass is twisting her words instead of answering questions about LAPD cooperation with ICE. She calls Gates a racist police chief and says that 50 years ago, under Mayor Tom Bradley, the city took steps so that immigrants could contact police without fear of being reported to immigration authorities.
After the statement
Raman goes on to say that 50 years ago, under Mayor Tom Bradley, the city took steps so immigrant residents could reach police without fear of being reported to immigration authorities, and asks why there are reports in 2026 that the LAPD is sharing information with ICE. According to the Los Angeles Times, she said she had used the phrase "gold standard" to describe Special Order 40.
Mayor Bass keeps dodging the question: why is the LAPD collaborating with ICE? · Nithya Raman74-second video; the Daryl Gates passage is at 0:22-0:43Bass and Raman trade accusations over former LAPD chief Daryl Gates · Los Angeles TimesOpening paragraphs on Bass's October 15 news conference and Raman's response; closing paragraphs on Bass's answer about LAPD data sharingWhy this label?
The reference point is Raman's own statement in the October 13, 2026 debate that Los Angeles used to be the gold standard in noncooperation with immigration enforcement in the Daryl Gates era. Raman rejects Bass's reading of the remark as praise for Gates, says she was describing the city's past limits on cooperation with immigration authorities, and condemns Gates himself, so we labeled it Challenged characterization. The closest competing label is Defended or excused, because she keeps her point about immigration policy; it loses because her response disputes how her words were described rather than defending Gates's record.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Karen BassMayor of Los Angeles and candidate for re-election, at a campaign news conferenceDirectly involvedBefore this statement
Two days after the debate, Bass spoke at her campaign headquarters, surrounded by about two dozen Black community leaders. She said it was a lie to portray Gates, who led the LAPD from 1978 to 1992, as the gold standard for the city's Latino residents, said he inflicted serious harm on the African American community, and called on Raman to retract the remark and apologize.
"My opponent is not really familiar with L.A., especially the Black community"
CondemnedResponding to: Los Angeles was the gold standard in noncooperation with immigration enforcement in the era of Police Chief Daryl Gates.
Full statement and sources
At a news conference with Black community leaders, Bass calls it a lie to portray Gates as the gold standard for Latino residents, says he inflicted serious harm on the African American community, and asks Raman to retract the remark and apologize.
After the statement
Bass added, "She doesn't know us." Asked about a video Raman posted that day, Bass said she does not believe the LAPD is sharing information with ICE.
Bass and Raman trade accusations over former LAPD chief Daryl Gates · Los Angeles TimesOpening paragraphs on Bass's October 15 news conference and Raman's response; closing paragraphs on Bass's answer about LAPD data sharingWhy this label?
The reference point is Nithya Raman's statement in the October 13, 2026 debate that Los Angeles used to be the gold standard in noncooperation with immigration enforcement in the Daryl Gates era. Bass calls that portrayal of Gates a lie and asks Raman to retract it and apologize, so we labeled it Condemned. No competing label fits.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(4)
Original video
Full debate: Karen Bass vs. Nithya Raman for LA mayor
About this source
NBC4 Los Angeles upload of the full October 13, 2026 mayoral debate between Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilmember Nithya Raman, held with Telemundo 52 three weeks before the November 3 runoff.
- Author
- NBCLA (NBC4 Los Angeles)
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Christopher Webb's Bluesky post on Nithya Raman and Daryl Gates
Relevant passage: Post text
About this source
Christopher Webb posted this on Bluesky on the evening of October 17, 2026, Pacific time.
- Author
- Christopher Webb (@cwebbonline.com)
- Published
- Accessed
Original video
Mayor Bass keeps dodging the question: why is the LAPD collaborating with ICE?
About this source
Raman's campaign posted this short video on October 15, 2026, while Bass was holding her news conference. Raman speaks to the camera about the debate exchange and LAPD cooperation with ICE.
- Author
- Nithya for Mayor (campaign YouTube channel)
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Bass and Raman trade accusations over former LAPD chief Daryl Gates
Relevant passage: Opening paragraphs on Bass's October 15 news conference and Raman's response; closing paragraphs on Bass's answer about LAPD data sharing
About this source
Los Angeles Times report on Mayor Karen Bass's October 15, 2026 news conference about Nithya Raman's debate remark on former LAPD chief Daryl Gates, Raman's video and written responses, and the LAPD's statement on Special Order 40.
- Author
- David Zahniser
- Published
- Accessed
Share or embed this case
The embed keeps its attribution link to The Dispute Index. Credit the image to The Dispute Index and link to the case page.
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Karen Bass demands an apology after Nithya Raman says Los Angeles was the "gold standard" on immigration noncooperation in the Daryl Gates era
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/bass-raman-daryl-gates-gold-standard
The Dispute Index. "Karen Bass demands an apology after Nithya Raman says Los Angeles was the "gold standard" on immigration noncooperation in the Daryl Gates era". First published: 2026-10-20. Last updated: 2026-10-20. https://disputeindex.com/cases/bass-raman-daryl-gates-gold-standard