The L.A. County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday declared immigration raids a local state of emergency, saying the county needs to do more to support immigrant families.
Since June, federal immigration agents have conducted sweeps all across Southern California, including L.A. County.
Listen • 0:42 What does LA’s emergency declaration on the ICE raids mean?
An emergency declaration is typically designated to natural disasters such as fires, earthquakes and flooding, as well as crises like homelessness.
“Stretching emergency powers for federal immigration actions undermines their purpose, invites legal challenges and circumvents the public process.”
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The letter L. A. A local state of emergency was declared by the County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday in response to immigration raids, stating that the county must do more to assist immigrant families.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger opposed the proclamation, which was approved by the board four to one.
Southern California has been the target of sweeps by federal immigration agents since June, including L. a. The county. County officials claim that those acts have disturbed daily life and fostered a culture of fear.
“This proclamation is about action and speed, and declaring a local emergency allows us to move faster to meet that responsibility,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Co-author of the motion Horvath stated. We are paying attention, we are taking action, and we will be there for you not just today but for however long it takes. “”.
L is home to almost 950,000 undocumented immigrants. A. . county, per the USC Equity Research Institute’s most recent study. That represents over 9% of the county’s population, but if you include those who are undocumented or who live with an undocumented family member, that number almost doubles.
Listen to 0:42.
What does it mean that LA declared an emergency regarding the ICE raids?
How does this signify?
Natural catastrophes like fires, earthquakes, and flooding, as well as emergencies like homelessness, are usually subject to an emergency declaration. Supervisor Janice Hahn stated that the Board of Supervisors’ action was the first to be taken in response to federal action.
The decision on Tuesday permits county officials to look for outside funding and assistance in order to address the effects of the raids. In order to handle the crisis, the county can also speed up hiring, procurement, and contracting.
According to Hahn, who co-authored the article, “this emergency proclamation is crucial to how we proceed in our response as this crisis continues, not just symbolically important as a message to our immigrant community.”.
The eviction moratorium can also be invoked by supervisors due to the state of emergency.
Some locals and business advocates expressed worries on Tuesday that if an eviction moratorium is imposed as a result of the declaration, it may mislead landlords and increase housing instability.
Barger, the motion’s opponent, stated in a statement that her choice had more to do with governance than immigration status.
“Emergency powers are provided for situations like wildfires that have the potential to be fatal, not as a quick fix for complicated policy problems,” Barger stated. In addition to undermining their intended purpose, extending emergency powers for federal immigration actions invites legal challenges and avoids the public process. “..”.
Until the Board of Supervisors votes to lift the proclamation, the local state of emergency is in force.
effects of the ICE sweeps.
According to the proclamation, “indiscriminate immigration raids have caused long-term harm to workers, families, and businesses by destabilizing entire neighborhoods and reverberating through critical sectors of the economy.”.
The county officials said that the loss of workers could cost the GDP $275 billion.
Supervisor Hilda Solis stated, “The workforce that we rely on right now is afraid to come out.”.
According to USC, the vast majority of undocumented immigrants in L. a. They play a significant role in the local economy because they are of working age. According to estimates, the construction industry employs 40% of undocumented workers, while the cleaning and maintenance industry employs 37%.
