Los Angeles County supervisors have declared a local state of emergency in response to escalating federal immigration enforcement actions, citing a pervasive climate of fear and significant economic disruption across the region.
County Supervisors Mobilize Resources Amidst ICE Raids
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, to issue the proclamation, a move typically reserved for natural disasters, but now applied to address the impacts of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations that have intensified since June. The declaration aims to empower the county to provide enhanced support for immigrant families and expedite the allocation of resources and assistance.
Supervisors Lindsey P. Horvath and Janice Hahn, who co-authored the motion, emphasized the need for swift action. “Declaring a local emergency allows us to move faster to meet that responsibility, and this proclamation is about action and speed,” Supervisor Horvath stated. She added, “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 measure grants the county the ability to seek external financial aid and mutual aid, as well as streamline contracting, procurement, and hiring processes to address the crisis.
Economic Fallout from Immigration Enforcement
County officials highlighted the profound economic consequences of the ICE raids. Projections suggest that workforce loss resulting from these actions could lead to a staggering $275 billion reduction in the county’s gross domestic product. Research from USC indicates that a substantial portion of undocumented immigrants in L.A. County are of working age and play a vital role in key sectors such as construction, where they constitute an estimated 40% of the workforce, and cleaning and maintenance, where they represent 37%.
A survey cited by county staff found a 62% drop in average weekly earnings for immigrants affected by the raids, though a significant 71% reported returning to work despite fears of deportation. Furthermore, a study by the UC Merced Community and Labor Center found that during a week of escalated ICE raids in June 2025, California experienced a 3.1% decline in its labor participation, a drop comparable to the start of the Great Recession.
Creating a Climate of Fear
The declaration asserts that the tactics employed by ICE have “created a climate of fear, leading to widespread disruption in daily life and adverse impacts to our regional economy”. Supervisors reported constituents contacting their offices because family members had disappeared after going to work, leaving families uncertain of their whereabouts or status. This fear has reportedly led to decreased attendance at workplaces, disrupted local economies, and strained critical services such as schools and hospitals.
Path to Tenant Protections and Broader Aid
Beyond resource mobilization, the emergency declaration is seen as a critical step towards implementing tenant protections. It paves the way for supervisors to invoke an eviction moratorium for renters who have experienced financial hardship due to the federal enforcement actions. The county also aims to provide rent relief through an online portal expected to launch within two months. The declaration also allows the county to access state funding for broader relief, including legal aid services for affected individuals.
Opposition and Concerns
Supervisor Kathryn Barger was the sole dissenting vote, arguing that the situation did not meet the criteria for a state of emergency and that such a declaration could invite legal challenges and strain the county’s budget. She suggested focusing on targeted programs like legal aid and rental assistance rather than utilizing emergency powers for policy issues. Representatives from the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles also voiced concerns, noting that landlords are still recovering from COVID-era rent freezes and questioning the direct link between immigration enforcement and inability to pay rent for many individuals.
Despite these concerns, the Board of Supervisors emphasized that the declaration is a crucial measure to support immigrant communities facing significant hardship and to address the cascading economic and social impacts of the federal raids across Los Angeles County. The state of emergency remains in effect until the Board votes to lift it.
