L.A. County declares state of emergency for immigrants

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(The Center Square) – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has declared a state of emergency for immigrants because of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids.

The Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Tuesday in favor of the emergency declaration, which allows the county to pass ordinances and seek outside resources to help immigrants. The proclamation was passed with the support of pro-immigrant associations and allows the board to give rent relief to tenants impacted by the immigration enforcement.

Supervisors accused ICE of spreading fear in the immigrant community. But Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin Wednesday told The Center Square that federal law enforcement should receive the board’s thanks instead of being demonized after 5,000 arrests that include "gang members, rapists, thieves and murderers."

Some people during the Board of Supervisors' public comment period, including those sympathetic with immigrants, expressed concern that the county’s emergency proclamation could ultimately set the stage for an eviction moratorium.

The ordinance could ultimately end up confusing landlords and tenants and expose the county to financial liability, said Elissa Diaz, director of public policy for the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, who noted the chamber shares the concerns over the plight of immigrants.

The declaration doesn’t get into the specifics of what the county will do. The County Counsel Office told the board of supervisors, which oversees the entire county government, that it would need to pass ordinances for specific actions.

The proclamation was co-authored by Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Janice Hahn.

“We all know what is happening in our community is an emergency, and unfortunately, it isn’t new. For months, families have been living under threat,” Horvath said during the board meeting. “Workers have been kidnapped from job sites, and children have been coming home to empty dinner tables. Los Angeles County has a responsibility to protect every resident, no matter where they come from, or what papers they carry. 

“Declaring a local emergency allows us to move faster to meet that responsibility. And this proclamation is about action and speed,” Horvath said. “It means Los Angeles County can move faster, coordinate better and use every tool available to support and stabilize our community. We will not stand by while fear and chaos spread throughout our neighborhoods.”

She turned to the Bible and quoted Leviticus 19:33-34: “The foreigner residing among you must be treated like your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you are foreigners in Egypt.”

Horvath accused ICE of detaining U.S.-borne citizens and others who are in the U.S. legally.

Previous emergency declarations were related to the weather, fires, floods, earthquakes and homelessness, Hahn told the board. “This is the first time that I can remember we’re confronting a crisis engineered by our own federal government.

“We have residents afraid to leave their homes. I have constituents contacting my office because their family members never came home,” Hahn said. “They don’t know if they’ve been taken by ICE or where they’ve been taken. We have entire families who are destitute because their mothers or fathers have been taken from their workplace, and they have no way to pay their rent or put food on the table.”

McLaughlin of Homeland Security responded to the declaration of emergency and the accusation that ICE is terrorizing the community.

“This isn’t the first time sanctuary politicians in Los Angeles have put law breakers ahead of Americans,” the assistant secretary said, responding to The Center Square's question by email. “The fact is while these politicians play Russian Roulette with American lives, ICE and Border Patrol are removing the worst of the worst from Los Angeles streets. Since operations began in June, ICE and Border Patrol have made more than 5,000 arrests in Los Angeles, including of gang members, rapists, thieves and murderers. Our law enforcement should be thanked by the board of supervisors — not demonized.”