The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a measure to declare a local state of emergency on Tuesday related to the Trump administration’s immigration raids in the city.
Why It Matters
The emergency move allows the county to mobilize resources for communities facing widespread fear, economic destabilization and disruption at their workplaces and educational institutions.
With nearly one-third of Los Angeles County’s 10 million residents being foreign-born, the declaration has significant social and economic implications, especially for immigrant and mixed-status families.
What To Know
According to the Associated Press (AP), the vote enables the county Board of Supervisors to approve rent relief efforts to tenants who cannot afford to pay their monthly costs of living due to the immigration crackdowns.
The board voted 4-1 to approve the local state of emergency related to the Trump administration’s ongoing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.
Los Angeles County officials said the measures would allow the redirection of state funds toward legal aid and other vital services. An online portal is planned to coordinate the disbursement of rent relief within two months, the AP says, citing Supervisor Lindsey Horvath’s office.
The emergency decision follows heightened ICE activities across Los Angeles since June. Federal agents have detained immigrants without U.S. legal status at locations including bus stops, car washes, Home Depots and farms. Some U.S. citizens have also reportedly been mistakenly detained. The region has seen the deployment of the National Guard and Marines, the cancellation of public events and a visible chilling effect on the use of local businesses and services.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi was asked about the local state of emergency while speaking with Fox News’ Sean Hannity Tuesday night, specifically if whether she thought the move was “aiding and abetting in lawbreaking.” She responded in part saying that “it is.”
What People Are Saying
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, to Newsweek via email: “The real emergency is the countless criminal illegal aliens that Joe Biden let waltz across our Southern Border and terrorize American communities. President Trump is fulfilling the promise he was elected on — deporting criminal aliens — whether Democrat politicians like it or not.”
Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger in a statement last week, according to local outlet FOX 11: “The federal government has sole authority to enforce federal immigration law, and local government cannot impede that authority.
“I believe the county should focus its efforts on advocating for meaningful federal immigration reform. We need policies that are fair, pragmatic, and create legal pathways for individuals who want to remain in the country, work hard, and contribute to their communities.”
Board member Janice Hahn, on X Tuesday: “It’s official. We have declared an LA County state of emergency in response to these lawless ICE raids. This emergency proclamation is not just symbolically important—it is critical to our response moving forward. We will use every tool at our disposal in this fight.”
What Happens Next
State and local officials are expected to monitor both the legal landscape and public reaction closely, as protests and advocacy continue. County leaders could also seek additional state and federal funding support. The federal government’s policies on enforcement have not shifted, making further local-federal clashes likely in the coming months.
Update 10/14/25, 11:01 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Jackson.
