The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to pursue a state of emergency for the county as a result of ICE arrests of breadwinners during raids that have left families unable to pay rent, buy food and clothing for their children, and causing many to stay home and not report to work due to fear.
By a 4-1 vote, the County Counsel’s Office was instructed to draft a state of emergency declaration pertaining to federal immigration actions that could help the county find private dollars and speed up financial aid for affected immigrant families behind on rent and facing eviction. A local state of emergency can also draw in help from affected cities, as well as the state government, to augment rent relief funds and legal aid services.
Supervisors Lindsey Horvath, Hilda Solis, Janice Hahn and Holly Mitchell voted in favor. Supervisor and board chair Kathryn Barger voted no. The draft proclamation is scheduled to come back at the next board meeting, Oct. 14, for a vote.
The use of a state of emergency proclamation was used after the January wildfires devastated Altadena and the Palisades, involving the homeless crisis, and five years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic. But using emergency powers regarding the immigration raids sweeping across the county is unusual, and could be challenged by the Trump administration.
Hahn, after reading from a preliminary report from the County Counsel, said a state of emergency can be proclaimed when there’s “extreme peril to person or property,” which she indicated justifies the proposed action.
“This is clearly what’s happening now,” Hahn said. “These ICE raids are putting people in extreme peril for their safety and for their children’s safety. I think it is important to tell our immigrant community we are in this emergency with you.”
Attorneys from the County Counsel Office and others were concerned about the legality of such an emergency, since it is not in line with typical reasons, such as natural disasters, fires, floods and pandemics.
“I’m sure we will be challenged legally,” said Barger, who voted against the motion. She said she would rather arrange to put more money into rent relief for affected tenants.
Many who spoke before the board were fearful to go outside. Some said earlier today, they witnessed people scurrying to avoid ICE agents in MacArthur Park. Others said they talked to eyewitnesses of raids in other cities, such as Gardena.
“This is a moment of crisis. This is a state of emergency. Families who have lost income due to the raids need your support and need to stay housed,” said Maya Daniels, policy intern with the TransLatin@ Coalition.
Eloisa Galindo, who spoke before the board, agreed. “It is incumbent we intervene to protect our neighbors to make sure they have the resources they need,” said Galindo, a member of the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment.
The motion came about after the board heard a report from the County Counsel on enacting a possible moratorium on evictions of those affected by immigration raids. The County Counsel said the best way to support any type of eviction moratorium is with an emergency declaration.
The approved motion for a declared emergency could be a first step toward an eviction moratorium but that is not part of the motion approved Tuesday.
The County Counsel’s Office recommended alternatives, such as increasing the funds for rent relief assistance to tenants and landlords. The report from the office also said it could raise unintended consequences if undocumented residents have to declare their immigration status to get help.
Horvath authored the motion that moves forward with the emergency declaration, saying immigration raids have hurt families who are in danger of becoming homeless, and have caused $275 billion in labor shortages and logistical delays in L.A. County.
The immigration raid ramp-up has been driven by President Trump’s campaign pledge to deport the “worst of the worst” immigrants in the country illegally and achieving the largest mass deportation in the history of the country.
Administration officials have defended the arrests, which they say are sweeping up “dangerous criminals” who are a threat to society.
However, the arrests of long-time immigrants who own vendor push carts, or who work in construction, car washes or restaurants — and have been raising families in Southern California for decades — have spurred a backlash from ordinary citizens, immigrant rights groups, labor groups and some local Republican legislators.
One out of every three county residents are immigrants, said Horvath. “The ongoing immigration raids have wreaked havoc on the county, sowing fear and impacted our local economy.”
Supervisor Solis noted that many areas with ethnic shops and restaurants, especially Latino neighborhoods, are like ghost towns. “All you have to do is go downtown and see shops are vacant,” she said. “I support this motion. We need to get more resources.”