L.A. County declares state of emergency to fight back against ICE immigration raids

"The state of emergency could mean eviction protections for tenants affected by the immigration sweeps launched by the Trump administration. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a state of emergency this week that could benefit tenants and others hurt by the Trump administration's ongoing immigration crackdown in Southern California. The action Tuesday is the latest and one of most sweeping efforts by local authorities to push back at immigration raids that have targeted several major American cities this summer and fall."

""What's happening in our communities is an emergency - and Los Angeles County is treating it like one," Horvath said in the release. "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. For months, families have lived under threat and workers have been taken from job sites.""

"A state of emergency is a precursor to enacting an eviction moratorium for households that have lost income due to the raids. The proclamation also allows local agencies to expedite the hiring of government positions needed to assist tenants. The proclamation was introduced by Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Janice Hahn, and allows the country to coordinate interagency response and request state and federal assistance to help affected communities, according to a news release from Horvath."

Los Angeles County approved a local state of emergency to help residents harmed by recent federal immigration sweeps. The proclamation paves the way for an eviction moratorium for households that lost income because of the raids and lets local agencies expedite hiring to assist tenants. Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Janice Hahn introduced the proclamation to coordinate interagency responses and request state and federal assistance. Los Angeles County officials intend to use lessons from earlier widespread arrests to design protections. The declaration follows clashes between immigration officers and protesters in other cities and targets support to immigrant communities.

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