Los Angeles County Considers Emergency Declaration Amid Immigration Raids

Los Angeles County officials are set to vote on an emergency declaration aimed at supporting residents financially impacted by ongoing federal immigration raids. The vote will take place on Tuesday, and if approved, it would empower the LA County Board of Supervisors to implement rent relief measures for tenants struggling due to the federal crackdown on immigrants.

The proposed local state of emergency would facilitate access to state funds for legal aid and other essential services. According to Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, the assistance program will include an online application portal for rent relief, expected to launch within two months.

This motion could also pave the way for an eviction moratorium, though such a measure would require additional action from the supervisors. Concerns have been raised by landlords, who fear that another financial setback could follow an extended ban on evictions and rental increases enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since June, the immigration enforcement climate in the Los Angeles region has intensified, characterized by aggressive operations from the Trump administration. Federal agents have conducted raids at various locations, including Home Depots, car washes, bus stops, and farms, leading to the detention of individuals without legal status in the U.S. Alarmingly, some U.S. citizens have also been caught in these operations.

Supervisors Horvath and Janice Hahn have expressed that the raids have fostered an atmosphere of fear, destabilizing both households and local businesses. “They are targeting families, disrupting classrooms, silencing workers, and forcing people to choose between staying safe and staying housed,” Horvath stated. She emphasized that declaring an emergency is a crucial step in combating these impacts.

The board’s decision to move forward with the vote comes after a previous meeting where members voted 4-1 in favor of bringing the declaration to the table. The lone dissenting voice, Supervisor Kathryn Barger, argued that the immigration raids do not constitute an emergency situation and expressed concerns about the potential inequity for landlords. “I’m sure we’re going to be challenged legally,” she remarked, referencing the anticipated legal implications.

Landlords are still recovering from the financial repercussions of the COVID-19 eviction moratorium, which resulted in numerous lawsuits and substantial losses. Daniel Yukelson, CEO of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, highlighted that housing providers are sympathetic to tenants affected by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities. However, he noted that the association has not encountered instances of tenants unable to pay rent solely due to these immigration enforcement actions.

Yukelson cautioned that allowing rent payments to be deferred in response to immigration enforcement could further undermine the availability of affordable housing in the community. As the situation unfolds, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will need to balance the needs of vulnerable residents with the concerns of landlords who have faced significant financial challenges in recent years.