Los Angeles County approved an emergency declaration on Tuesday in response to the Trump administration’s immigration raids, which have rattled local migrant communities.
In a 4-1 vote, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the measure, according to The Associated Press.
The emergency declaration will ensure funds are provided to local residents for rental assistance and legal aid, as some immigrants have stopped going to work in an effort to avoid being rounded up by immigration officials.
“We have residents afraid to leave their homes, we have constituents contacting my office because their family members never came home and they don’t know if they’ve been taken by ICE or where they’ve been taken,” County Supervisor Janice Hahn said, per AP.
“We have entire families who are destitute because their fathers or mothers have been taken from their work places and they have no way to pay their rent or put food on their table,” she added.
Migrant workers have been targeted through raids at farms, places of business and at their homes.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger was the sole person to dissent on the board, warning the declaration could harm landlords and open the county to legal challenges.
Rent arrangements offered by the county during the COVID-19 pandemic spurred a whirlwind of legal cases from landlords.
Daniel Yukelson, CEO of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, told AP that landlords lost billions in uncollected rent during the COVID emergency.
The county’s move marks the latest effort by California officials to push back on President Trump’s immigration crackdown in the state.
Last month, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) issued new legislation banning ICE agents from wearing masks.
He said face coverings allow federal law enforcement agents to be “hidden from accountability” arguing masks prevent “transparency” for citizens and hinder “oversight.”
Residents have protested against ICE raids as the Department of Homeland Security said 5,000 illegal immigrants in Los Angeles were arrested from June to August.
Newsom and other state leaders have promised to “push back.”
“We are a majority-minority state, California. At our best, we don’t tolerate that diversity. At our best, we celebrate that diversity. We’re a universal state…” the governor said last month.
“Our status is unique in the United States of America. It’s what makes California great. It’s what makes America great. And it’s under assault by this administration.”
