Los Angeles County declared a local state of emergency on October 14, citing widespread economic and social disruption caused by ongoing federal immigration raids. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 4–1 in favor of the motion, introduced by Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, following reports that the raids have left residents afraid to leave their homes, forcing many businesses to close and workers to stay home.
The proclamation states that federal immigration enforcement actions have “created a climate of fear,” leading to decreased attendance at workplaces, school disruptions, and strain on hospitals, churches, and public services. A recent survey cited in the document found a 62% drop in average weekly earnings for immigrants and reports that 71% returned to work despite deportation fears to avoid eviction—some alleging that landlords threatened to report them to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if rent was unpaid.
Supervisor Janice Hahn and Supervisor Holly Mitchell voiced strong support, describing the declaration as a necessary response to the “fear, pain, and disorder” the community is facing. Hahn emphasized that “entire families are destitute because their fathers or mothers were taken from their workplaces,” while Mitchell warned that immigration agents’ actions have “emboldened others” to commit race-based violence.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger cast the lone dissenting vote, arguing that the emergency declaration would invite legal challenges from the federal government and impose further fiscal strain on the county. “We need real solutions, not symbolic gestures,” she said, calling instead for targeted programs such as legal aid and rental assistance for affected families.
According to the Office of Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, the declaration empowers Los Angeles County to expedite contracting, procurement, and hiring, request additional financial assistance and mutual aid, and take emergency actions to stabilize impacted communities. County attorneys previously noted that a temporary and narrowly tailored eviction moratorium could be enacted during a declared local emergency, with due-process protections for landlords and repayment of back rent.
The raids, which began around June 6, have reportedly deterred residents from commuting, seeking medical services, or attending legal appointments, according to the proclamation. County officials stated that the emergency status will help coordinate interagency responses and secure additional funding to mitigate the raids’ economic and humanitarian impacts.
