Incoming Los Angeles Mayor Nithya Raman, a socialist councilwoman, is drawing fierce criticism for defending violent and illegal conduct directed at federal immigration officers. Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, answered her with a pointed lesson about facts, federal authority, and the Constitution.

Essayli is the son of immigrants who came to America legally and complied with the law. His response contrasted that experience with illegal immigration while accusing Raman of dishonesty and warning that she lacks authority to interfere with federal operations.

The confrontation carried an especially glaring detail: ICE officers were at the scene to obtain medical treatment for a detainee who had asked to see a doctor. According to Essayli, agitators instead created a dangerous situation involving the public and law enforcement.

Essayli opened his rebuke with sarcasm: “I know you're new to this, but facts matter.”

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“ICE was there to get medical treatment for a detainee who requested to see a doctor. I assume you support federal agents providing medical care to illegal immigrants in custody?”

That account turns Raman’s posture on its head because the people she defended were interfering while officers sought care for an illegal alien. Rather than preventing medical treatment, ICE was attempting to provide it to a detainee who requested a doctor.

Essayli then described the conduct of the agitators and the federal response.

“These agitators created a dangerous situation for the public and law enforcement. Law enforcement will never back down to thugs, so efforts to intimidate ICE will fail.”

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His statement says two individuals were arrested for assaulting federal agents after backup arrived and officers controlled the scene. It also makes clear that efforts to intimidate ICE would not cause law enforcement to retreat.

18 U.S. Code § 111 penalizes anyone who “assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates, or interferes with” immigration officers. A conviction under that provision could bring a prison term stretching to decades, making the conduct described far more serious than ordinary political theater.

Raman is a councilwoman who is becoming mayor, yet Essayli said her new office would not give her control over federal immigration enforcement. He told her directly that agents were carrying out federal immigration laws enacted by Congress.

“As a public official, you should know the applicable laws. Agents are enforcing federal immigration laws passed by Congress. As mayor, you have no say in federal affairs. It's called the Supremacy Clause.”

Essayli then delivered the sharpest line of his constitutional lesson: “I can send you a copy of the U.S. Constitution if you'd like to study up.”

The Constitution jab carried plenty of sting, but the underlying point was more serious. Essayli said federal affairs remain outside Raman’s authority as mayor, framing her intervention as legally misplaced and poorly informed.

After addressing federal authority, Essayli turned to the distinction between legal and illegal immigration.

“When you talk about immigrants, please distinguish between legal and illegal immigrants. I'm the son of legal immigrants. Our family followed the law, was welcomed with open arms, and is proud to be law-abiding Americans. The two are not the same.”

I know you're new to this, but facts matter. ICE was there to get medical treatment for a detainee who requested to see a doctor. I assume you support federal agents providing medical care to illegal immigrants in custody?

These agitators created a dangerous situation for the public and law enforcement. Law enforcement will never back down to thugs, so efforts to intimidate ICE will fail. They called for backup, controlled the scene, and arrested two individuals who assaulted federal agents. As a public official, you should know the applicable laws. Agents are enforcing federal immigration laws passed by Congress. As mayor, you have no say in federal affairs. It's called the Supremacy Clause. I can send you a copy of the U.S. Constitution if you'd like to study up. When you talk about immigrants, please distinguish between legal and illegal immigrants. I'm the son of legal immigrants. Our family followed the law, was welcomed with open arms, and is proud to be law-abiding Americans. The two are not the same. — F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) November 8, 2026

Essayli’s closing argument centered on the distinction Raman’s rhetoric blurred. His family followed the law, received a welcome, and became proud Americans, while he insisted that legal immigrants and illegal immigrants must not be treated as though their circumstances were identical.

For Raman, the exchange offered a brutal preview of the limits attached to her coming role. Essayli’s message was blunt: federal agents will continue enforcing immigration law, intimidation will fail, and the mayor of Los Angeles has no authority over federal affairs.

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