LOS ANGELES:- Los Angeles County officials are preparing to declare a state of emergency to provide relief to immigrants who have been financially affected by concerns raised by ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids.
The county’s announcement will allow the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to implement eviction moratoriums and other protections for tenants affected by immigration raids.
This would be the latest announcement by local officials in Southern California to counter the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and raids.
Local and state agencies in California have sought temporary restraining orders in court over raids and military deployments, passed a mask ban for federal law enforcement, and established a financial relief fund for immigrants.
Fear remains among Southern California residents as heavily armed and masked federal agents continue to patrol the streets of the city, as do Chicago and other cities.
“Families are now afraid to go to work, even to buy groceries,” County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath said at a board meeting Tuesday. “As this fear spreads, so does economic hardship, and with it, the very real risk of eviction and homelessness.”
The eviction moratorium would extend existing rent relief for people affected by the immigration raids that the board approved last month. On Tuesday, the five-member board voted 4-1 to put the emergency declaration up for a vote at its next meeting on Oct. 14.
“The immigration cleanup does not meet the emergency criteria and the eviction moratorium would be unfair to landlords,” said Catherine Barger, the only observer to vote.