L.A. County supervisors are considering a state of emergency in response to the wave of immigration raids, which would pave the way to an eviction moratorium.
The L.A. County Board of Supervisors has declared a state of emergency in response to increased immigration raids, which will allow them to enact an eviction moratorium and other protections for residents who may be financially impacted by the raids.
The declaration was passed by a 4-to-1 vote and aims to shield communities from financial instability caused by fear, workplace disruption, and potential job losses.
What the emergency declaration means
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Protections for residents:The declaration gives officials the power to impose an eviction moratorium and other tenant protections.
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Support for affected families:It is intended to provide assistance to residents who have suffered financial hardship due to the raids.
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Climate of fear:The board cited a “climate of fear” resulting from the raids that has negatively impacted the economy, reduced attendance at work, and strained local institutions.
The vote and concerns
- The Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to pass the declaration.
- The sole dissenting vote came from Supervisor Barger, who argued that the raids do not meet the criteria for an emergency and raised concerns about potential legal challenges and the financial burden on landlords.
- County officials expect legal challenges to any eviction moratorium, similar to those that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
