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Los Angeles, long celebrated as a “city of sanctuary,” now finds itself at a
dangerous crossroads.
The 2028 Olympic Games, designated as a National Special Security Event
(NSSE), threaten to undermine the very protections that make this city a refuge
for immigrant communities. Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass,
who claim to champion equity and inclusion, are instead enabling policies that
would disproportionately harm the Latino population while hiding behind a
facade of sustainability and social justice.
The NSSE designation grants the federal government —and by extension,
agencies like the FBI, Secret Service, DHS, and ICE— unprecedented power in
Los Angeles. Historically, such events have been used to justify sweeping
surveillance measures, mass policing, and heavy-handed crackdowns on dissent.
Alarmingly, Mayor Bass has expedited this process by requesting the NSSE
designation a full four years ahead of the 2028 Olympics, rather than the
typical few months prior to the event. This unprecedented move has already set
in motion extensive federal law enforcement coordination in Los Angeles,
effectively placing the city under prolonged surveillance.
This development coincides with President Donald Trump’s renewed calls for
mass deportations, creating a perilous environment for undocumented residents.
By aligning with federal security measures under the guise of Olympic
preparedness, Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass are complicit in policies that
could lead to increased deportations, undermining the sanctuary status they
publicly uphold.
More Surveillance
The deployment of advanced surveillance technologies, particularly facial
recognition systems, poses additional risks. Studies have consistently
shown that these systems exhibit significant racial biases, with error rates
disproportionately higher for people of color. For instance, research indicates
that facial recognition technology can have an error rate of up to 35% for
darker-skinned individuals, compared to less than 1% for lighter-skinned
individuals. This disparity heightens the likelihood of misidentifying Latino
residents, potentially leading to wrongful arrests and deportations.
During past Olympic Games, host cities saw an escalation in state surveillance
and displacement, disproportionately impacting low-income communities and
people of color. In Rio de Janeiro (2016), police forces used the Games as an
excuse to conduct aggressive raids in favelas, targeting Black and Brown
residents under the guise of “security.” In London (2012), CCTV monitoring and
facial recognition technologies were deployed at an alarming scale, setting a
precedent for future abuses. There is no reason to believe Los Angeles would be
any different.
For Latinos in LA, the implications are dire. Increased police presence in
historically immigrant-heavy neighborhoods like Boyle Heights and South
Central would likely lead to more racial profiling, detentions, and deportations.
While Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass publicly decry federal overreach on
immigration, they are quietly making it easier for the government to conduct
mass surveillance and ICE operations under the banner of “keeping the Olympics
safe.”
The proximity of Latino communities to venues means residents and visitors can
easily access various Olympic competitions, making them a target of massive
surveillance. Among the announced venues are:
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: Located in Exposition Park, adjacent to
South Central Los Angeles, this historic stadium will host athletics (track and
field) events.
BMO Stadium: Also situated in Exposition Park, BMO Stadium is slated to
host soccer matches during the Games.
USC’s Galen Center: This venue will host badminton competitions and is
located near South Central Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Convention Center: Situated in downtown Los Angeles, this
center will host fencing, taekwondo, table tennis, judo, and wrestling events.
Los Angeles Can’t Afford It
Beyond civil liberties, there’s the financial recklessness of hosting the Games. Los
Angeles is already facing a severe budget crisis, with a shortfall projected in the
hundreds of millions. Basic city services —streetlights, public transportation, and
affordable housing— are in disrepair. It is reprehensible that city leaders continue
to sell the Olympics as an economic boon when history tells us otherwise.
Every modern Olympics has led to cost overruns, and LA’s would be no
different.
Billions of taxpayer dollars will be funneled into Olympic security and temporary
bus rental programs for tourists, while working-class Latino neighborhoods
continue to struggle. If the city cannot even keep its streetlights on for
months at a time, how can it justify the extravagant spending required to host
an event of this magnitude?
The Gentrification Machine
Los Angeles initially committed to a “no-build” Olympics, promising that no new
major developments would be necessary to host the Games. However, that
commitment is rapidly being reversed. The city is now pushing to exempt
Olympic-related construction projects from standard review processes, a
move spearheaded by Councilmember Traci Park. This exemption effectively
gives developers a blank check to build unchecked, without the oversight that
typically protects tenants and working-class communities from displacement.
One of the key areas affected by this reversal is the Los Angeles Promise
Zone, which was officially designated to drive economic and housing stability in
underserved communities. Instead, with the Olympics approaching, the Promise
Zone is a vehicle for large-scale gentrification. The city could fast-track high-end
developments under the guise of “Olympic readiness,” jeopardizing
thousands of Latino families who have called these neighborhoods home for
generations.
Proponents of LA28 claim it would be the “greenest” and most “equitable”
Olympics ever. These are empty promises. The same officials pushing these
narratives are failing to invest in real climate solutions, public housing, or public
transit access for working-class communities. Instead, they are greenwashing a
massive carbon-intensive event, sportswashing the displacement of vulnerable
communities, and equitywashing policies that would make life harder for Latinos.
A Political Shift
Latinos have historically been a powerful force in shaping California’s political
landscape, from the rise of the United Farm Workers under César Chávez to the
decisive role Latino voters played in flipping Orange County blue in recent
elections. Today, as Latino voters increasingly move away from traditional party
allegiances, their political power is more important than ever. Supporting the
Olympics in its current form is a direct betrayal of this electorate.
Latino families will not benefit from the Games—they will be pushed out, over-
policed, and left to foot the bill for a spectacle designed to benefit corporate
sponsors and elite investors.
By aligning themselves with this failed model, Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass
risk permanently alienating a community whose influence at the ballot box has
only grown and will continue to shape the future of California politics. If they do
not take immediate steps to halt the Olympics and end the dangerous expansion
of surveillance, Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass will face political
repercussions. Latinos make up nearly half of Los Angeles’ population, and their
voices are growing louder against policies that threaten their safety and economic
security. The political future of both leaders is on the line.
If these two leaders fail to stand up now, their legacy will not be one of progress.
The Games must be stopped before they cause irreversible harm to the people
who have built this city and continue to fight for its future.
About the Author
NOlympics LA is a coalition of grassroots organizations fighting to stop the
2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, exposing the Games’ role in accelerating
displacement, police militarization, mass surveillance, and the privatization of
public resources while advocating for a city that prioritizes its residents over
corporate interests.
