On October 14, 2025, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors took a decisive and unprecedented step by declaring a local state of emergency in response to ongoing federal immigration raids that have swept through the region since June. The 4-1 vote, with Supervisor Kathryn Barger dissenting, marked the first time the county has used emergency powers to address the fallout from federal immigration enforcement rather than a natural disaster or public health crisis, according to LAist.
The emergency declaration, as reported by the Associated Press and LAist, is intended to provide immediate assistance to residents who have found themselves in financial distress due to the aggressive crackdown. The move gives the Board authority to offer rent relief to tenants who have fallen behind on payments, funnel state money for legal aid and other services, and expedite contracting, procurement, and hiring to address the crisis. An online portal for rent assistance applications will be launched within two months, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath’s office confirmed.
Since the summer, the Los Angeles region has become a battleground for the Trump administration’s hardline immigration strategy. Federal agents have conducted widespread sweeps at locations ranging from Home Depots and car washes to bus stops and farms, detaining not only undocumented immigrants but, in some cases, U.S. citizens as well. The raids have led to more than 5,000 arrests in Los Angeles by late August, according to AP, and have sown fear throughout immigrant communities. About a third of the county’s 10 million residents are foreign-born, with nearly 950,000 undocumented immigrants living in the county, according to recent research from the USC Equity Research Institute. That figure jumps significantly when including those who live with undocumented family members.
The emotional toll has been severe. Supervisor Janice Hahn, who co-authored the emergency motion, described the distress her constituents are experiencing: “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. 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.”
Supervisor Lindsey Horvath echoed the urgency, stating, “Declaring a local emergency allows us to move faster to meet that responsibility, and this proclamation is about action and speed. We are listening, we are acting, and we will continue to stand with you, not just today but for as long as it takes.”
The economic impact of the raids could be staggering. The Board’s proclamation cited estimates that workforce loss from the raids could result in a $275 billion blow to the county’s gross domestic product. USC research highlighted by LAist shows that a majority of undocumented immigrants in L.A. County are of working age, with 40% employed in construction and 37% in cleaning and maintenance—sectors vital to the local economy. “The workforce that we rely on right now is afraid to come out,” noted Supervisor Hilda Solis.
As fear spread, the ripple effects became visible in daily life. Several cities in the region canceled their Fourth of July celebrations and summer movie nights as families chose to stay home for safety, AP reported. Businesses and classrooms have been disrupted, and some households have been left without breadwinners after arrests at workplaces.
The emergency declaration also paves the way for further action, including the potential enactment of an eviction moratorium to protect tenants affected by the raids. However, such a move would require a separate vote by the Board of Supervisors. Some residents and business advocates voiced concerns during the public comment period, warning that an eviction moratorium could confuse landlords and increase housing instability. Supervisor Kathryn Barger, the lone dissenting vote, argued that the situation did not meet the criteria for an emergency and raised questions about the appropriate use of emergency powers. “Emergency powers exist for crises that pose life and death consequences like wildfires — not as a shortcut for complex policy issues,” Barger stated. “Stretching emergency powers for federal immigration actions undermines their purpose, invites legal challenges and circumvents the public process.”
Landlords, too, are wary of the financial implications. The county’s eviction moratorium during the COVID-19 pandemic led to multiple lawsuits and, according to Daniel Yukelson, CEO of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, cost housing providers “billions of dollars in uncollected rent and prohibited annual rent increases.” Yukelson expressed sympathy for tenants and their families affected by immigration enforcement but added, “If local jurisdictions once again allow rent payments to be deferred due to ICE enforcement activities, this will lead to the further deterioration and loss of affordable housing in our community.” He also noted that the association is unaware of anyone unable to pay rent specifically due to immigration enforcement.
Despite the pushback, supporters of the emergency declaration maintain that the county has a responsibility to act. Supervisor Janice Hahn emphasized the symbolic and practical importance of the move, saying, “This emergency proclamation is not just symbolically important as a message to our immigrant community but critical to how we move forward in our response as this crisis continues.” The declaration allows county leaders to seek financial assistance and mutual aid outside of Los Angeles County, and it remains in effect until the Board votes to end it.
For many, the Board’s action is a lifeline in a time of uncertainty and fear. The online rent relief portal, set to launch within two months, is expected to provide crucial support for families struggling to make ends meet after losing income due to the raids. Meanwhile, the debate over the scope and appropriateness of emergency powers is likely to continue, especially as legal challenges may arise.
As Los Angeles County navigates the aftermath of the federal crackdown, the emergency declaration stands as a testament to the region’s complex relationship with immigration and its ongoing struggle to balance compassion, governance, and economic stability. The coming months will reveal whether the measure can deliver the relief and reassurance its supporters promise—or whether it will spark further controversy in a community already on edge.
