The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to declare an emergency over federal immigration enforcement in a 4-1 vote.
The proclamation “empowers the County to mobilize resources, expedite contracting and procurement, coordinate interagency response, and request state and federal assistance to protect and stabilize impacted communities,” a press release from Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath says.
“What’s happening in our communities is an emergency — and Los Angeles County is treating it like one,” stated Horvath. “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. This proclamation is about action and speed — it allows us to move faster, coordinate better, and use every tool available to protect and stabilize our communities. We will continue to stand with our immigrant neighbors — today, and for as long as it takes.”
“Such enforcement actions and tactics have created a climate of fear, leading to widespread disruption in daily life and adverse impacts to our regional economy due to decreased attendance at workplaces, the temporary or permanent closure of businesses and restaurants, and increased strain on our local institutions such as schools, hospitals, and places of worship,” the proclamation says of immigration enforcement activities.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles, its mayor, Karen Bass, and its city council over policies impeding federal immigration enforcement.
According to the filing, the purpose of the sanctuary city law is to “thwart” Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from “carrying out their statutory obligations as directed by Congress. The council members who passed the bill have publicly declared as much.”
