In brief
In response to ongoing federal immigration raids, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on declaring a state of emergency. This could lead to financial assistance for those struggling with rent, while landlords voice concerns about the implications of such a declaration, especially following COVID-19-related eviction bans. Advocacy from Supervisors suggests the emergency is necessary due to heightened fears and instability among residents.
Los Angeles County officials are poised to vote Tuesday on a proposal to declare a state of emergency due to the financial hardships faced by residents as a result of ongoing federal immigration raids. This declaration aims to grant the LA County Board of Supervisors new powers to aid tenants struggling to pay their rent due to these enforcement activities.
Under the proposed emergency declaration, the county could provide rent relief to those who have fallen behind. A new online portal for applications for this assistance is expected to launch within two months. Furthermore, the declaration could pave the way for an eviction moratorium, although this would require additional action from the board.
Landlords are expressing concern that such a move could further strain their finances after an extended moratorium on evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in significant financial losses.
Since June, Los Angeles has experienced intense federal immigration enforcement actions as part of the Trump administration's immigration strategy, which has ignited community protests and led to the deployment of National Guard troops amid fears and instability within local households and businesses.
Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Janice Hahn have publicly stated that the raids have incited widespread fear, affecting families and silencing workers. They are targeting families, disrupting classrooms, silencing workers, and forcing people to choose between staying safe and staying housed, said Horvath in her argument for the emergency declaration.
In contrast, Supervisor Kathryn Barger, the only dissenting vote in a previous decision to bring the emergency proposal to the floor, raised concerns about the declaration being an overreach and potentially unfair to landlords. Barger suggested legal challenges could arise as a result.
Daniel Yukelson, CEO of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, stated that while housing providers empathize with the affected tenants, they are not aware of any renters explicitly unable to pay due to ICE activities. He voiced fears that allowing rent deferrals related to immigration enforcement would further erode affordable housing in the area.
