Activists Criticize LA28 Safety Plan for Overreliance on DHS Amid Raid Concerns

Context Los Angeles will host the 2028 Summer Olympics, a designated National Special Security Event that triggers federal involvement. President Trump signed an executive order creating a task force to oversee security for the Games. The organizing committee, LA28, released a human‑rights‑focused safety plan last month.

Key Facts The plan states that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other federal agencies will supply significant resources, staff, and technology to protect athletes, spectators, and surrounding communities. Federal officials will coordinate with state and local law‑enforcement agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), to manage operational security and contingency planning.

Activist groups such as the Fair Game Coalition and the Sunita Jain Anti‑Trafficking Initiative testified before a Los Angeles City Council committee, warning that the plan “fails to protect those most at risk.” Martin Barrera of Fair Game Coalition cited DHS’s recent immigration raids, which arrested dozens of migrant workers, as evidence that the agency’s involvement could provoke fear and discord among Angelenos.

Critics also pointed to recent staffing shortages flagged by the LAPD chief, who warned the department is not prepared to secure the Games without additional federal support. The activists’ concerns grew after the LA28 board added former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, both Trump allies, prompting calls for LA28 chair Casey Wasserman’s resignation.

What It Means If the safety plan proceeds unchanged, federal agencies will play a central role in Olympic security, potentially limiting oversight by local civil‑rights groups. The backlash may pressure LA28 to adjust its reliance on DHS or to incorporate stronger safeguards for vulnerable populations. Watch for any revisions to the security framework as the Games approach and for further testimony from community organizations.

*Future monitoring will focus on whether LA28 modifies its security strategy in response to activist pressure and how federal‑local coordination evolves ahead of the 2028 Olympics.*