The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday to declare a state of emergency due to illegal immigration enforcement activity initiated by the Trump administration.
The decision grants the board the power to provide financial resources to immigrants who have allegedly suffered economic hardships due to illegal immigration enforcement efforts ordered by President Donald Trump. This includes providing financial assistance to renters who have lapsed in their monthly payments and have allegedly been reluctant to go to work for fear of being apprehended in a federal raid.
Board members Janice Hahn and Lindsey P. Horvath proposed the “Proclamation of Local Emergency for Federal Immigration Actions.” The board categorized the current circumstances as “extreme peril” and claimed it “destabilized entire neighborhoods” and devastated “critical sectors of the economy.”
The board declared in the proclamation that “ongoing immigration raids and unlawful enforcement tactics initiated by the federal government have caused residents to be fearful of leaving their homes to go to work, take public transportation, access County services, including medical services, access open public programs and resources, and attend appointments with immigration lawyers and legal service providers.”
Board members also claimed that illegal immigration enforcement efforts “created a climate of fear, leading to widespread disruption in daily life and adverse impacts to our regional economy.” They cited “decreased attendance” in various aspects of Los Angeles County communities, including workplaces, schools, and places of worship.
The board members cited a study that showed the economic consequences of the Trump administration’s illegal immigration initiative. The study claimed there would be a 16% reduction in the construction industry and a 14% decrease in the agriculture industry. It also found that there could be a “$275 billion loss to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) output.” It also revealed a “3.1% drop in private-sector employment” the week after illegal immigration enforcement started in Los Angeles County.
“What’s happening in our communities is an emergency — and Los Angeles County is treating it like one,” said Horvath. “Declaring a Local Emergency ensures that the full weight of County government is aligned to support our immigrant communities who are being targeted by federal actions. For months, families have lived under threat, and workers have been taken from job sites.”
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“This proclamation is about action and speed — it allows us to move faster, coordinate better, and use every tool available to protect and stabilize our communities,” she added. “We will continue to stand with our immigrant neighbors — today, and for as long as it takes.”
The supervisors, the proclamation, and the study cited in it failed to label the immigrants affected by the board’s decision as illegal or undocumented, instead referring to them as just “immigrants.”