The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors declared a local state of emergency after a surge in immigration enforcement operations led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The 4-1 vote allows the county to use emergency powers usually reserved for natural disasters to support residents impacted by the raids.
The proclamation was shared online by Lindsey Horvath’s office. The notice is dated Oct. 9 and will stay in effect until the Board decides to end it.
County departments were instructed to take “necessary emergency actions” to stabilize communities affected by federal immigration operations. County officials say the raids have created what they call “a climate of fear.” They claim it has disrupted businesses, schools, and local services.
The emergency measure opens the door for the county to offer rent relief and legal assistance. It also allows them to apply for state funding to help those impacted.
County leaders are weighing an eviction moratorium for tenants who can prove economic hardship tied to immigration enforcement. Such a moratorium would require a separate vote.
Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who coauthored the motion, said the action was needed. “What’s happening in our communities is an emergency and Los Angeles County is treating it like one,” she said. “When our immigrant neighbors are targeted, our entire county feels it in our workplaces, in our schools, and in our homes.”
Supervisor Janice Hahn added that entire families are being left destitute when parents are detained at workplaces. Supervisor Holly Mitchell claimed the raids have emboldened others to commit acts of race-based violence and hate.
The sole vote against the declaration came from Supervisor Kathryn Barger. She warned that the action could trigger lawsuits.
“The federal government has sole authority to enforce federal immigration law, and local governments cannot impede that authority,” Barger said. “We should instead advocate for meaningful immigration reform that is fair, pragmatic, and creates legal pathways for those who contribute to our communities.”
ICE responded sharply. In a statement to Fox News Digital, spokesperson Emily Convington said the “only state of emergency is the one the residents of Los Angeles face after electing officials who give a middle finger to the law.” She added that while officials “fear-monger,” ICE is removing dangerous criminals, including “a child rapist from their neighborhood.”
The county’s decision follows months of large-scale enforcement operations across Southern California. Raids have taken place in workplaces, neighborhoods, and public spaces. Hundreds of illegal immigrants have been detained, sparking protests.
A Supreme Court ruling in September cleared the way for ICE to move forward with enforcement. The Court rejected claims of racial bias in the detentions. Researchers documented a statewide employment dip following the sweeps, which they linked to fears of apprehension.
Los Angeles is home to one of the nation’s largest immigrant populations. Roughly one-third of the county’s 10 million residents are foreign-born. An estimated 800,000 to 1 million are living in the county illegally.
Landlord advocates criticized the county’s emergency approach. They warned it could hurt property owners. Daniel Yukelson, executive director of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, said a moratorium would put pressure on small landlords still recovering from previous COVID-era restrictions.
ICE said it will continue enforcing federal law. “Local governments can pass whatever resolutions they want,” Convington said. “Our job is to enforce immigration law.”