Los Angeles County Declares State of Emergency Over Immigration Raids
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to declare a state of emergency in response to federal immigration raids that have swept through the region since June, marking the first time the county has declared an emergency over federal government actions. The declaration enables county officials to provide rent relief, legal aid, and other services to residents affected by the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement operations.
Emergency Powers and Financial Assistance
The proclamation, introduced by Supervisors Lindsey P. Horvath and Janice Hahn, empowers the county to expedite contracting and procurement, mobilize resources, and coordinate interagency responses to protect impacted communities. The county allocated approximately $30 million in rental assistance for residents affected by either wildfires or federal immigration raids, with plans to begin accepting applications through an online portal in December. The declaration also allows the Board of Supervisors to potentially enact an eviction moratorium, though that would require a separate vote.
“What’s happening in our communities is an emergency — and Los Angeles County is treating it like one. Declaring a Local Emergency ensures that the full weight of County government is aligned to support our immigrant communities who are being targeted by federal actions.”
— Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath
Economic Impact and Community Fear
County officials cite severe economic disruption, including a 62% drop in average weekly earnings for immigrants and widespread business closures, as residents avoid leaving their homes. The proclamation estimates that workforce losses could result in a $275 billion loss to the gross domestic product. In Los Angeles’ Fashion District, visitor numbers have plummeted by 45%, translating to a loss of 10,000 to 12,000 shoppers each day.
Supervisor Janice Hahn, who co-authored the measure with Horvath, described the human impact: “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”. The raids have targeted locations including Home Depot stores, car washes, bus stops, and farms across the Los Angeles region.
Scale of Enforcement Operations
The immigration raids began around June 6 and have resulted in thousands of arrests across Los Angeles County, home to approximately three million immigrants — about one-third of the county’s 10 million residents. From June 1 through June 10, ICE apprehended 722 people in the Los Angeles area, compared to only 103 apprehensions during the same timeframe in 2024. In late August alone, more than 5,000 arrests occurred in Los Angeles as part of the enforcement effort.
Federal agents have detained some U.S. citizens along with undocumented immigrants, according to county officials. The raids triggered protests beginning June 6, leading President Trump to deploy National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles to protect federal properties and support ICE operations.
Opposition and Legal Concerns
Supervisor Kathryn Barger cast the sole dissenting vote, arguing the raids do not meet emergency criteria and could unfairly burden landlords still recovering from COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. “Emergency powers exist for crises that pose life and death consequences like wildfires — not as a shortcut for complex policy issues,” Barger said.
Daniel Yukelson, CEO of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, warned that allowing rent deferrals could “lead to the further deterioration and loss of affordable housing in our community”. Landlords remain concerned about additional financial impacts following billions in uncollected rent during pandemic-era eviction moratoriums.
The emergency proclamation will remain in effect until the Board of Supervisors votes to terminate it. The declaration authorizes all county departments to take necessary emergency actions to protect and stabilize communities impacted by federal immigration actions.
“Board Proclaims an Immigration Emergency in Los Angeles County.” 2025. Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath’s Office, October 14, 2025. https://lindseyhorvath.lacounty.gov/immigration-emergency-declaration/.
Brooks, Brad, and Daniel Trotta. 2025. “LA County Board approves emergency declaration over immigration raids.” Reuters, October 14, 2025. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/la-county-board-approves-emergency-declaration-over-immigration-raids-2025-10-15/.
Cuevas, Priscilla, Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, and Sarah Moon. 2025. “Los Angeles County declares state of emergency to provide financial help to residents struggling due to immigration raids.” CNN, October 14, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/14/us/los-angeles-state-of-emergency-immigration.
“LA County declares state of emergency to aid residents hit by immigration raids.” 2025. Associated Press, October 14, 2025. https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-immigration-raids-5765a38d1bf486616d9eede93d66b22b.
Martinez, Adolfo Guzman. 2025. “How ICE raids turned parts of Los Angeles into ghost towns.” CNN, July 4, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/04/us/los-angeles-ghost-towns.
Sisak, Michael R., Julie Watson, and Stefanie Dazio. 2025. “L.A. County Declares State of Emergency Over Immigration Raids.” The New York Times, October 15, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/world/americas/los-angeles-emergency-immigration-raids.html.