Los Angeles County declares emergency over Trump administration ICE raids

Los Angeles County leaders declared a local state of emergency in the area on Tuesday, according to local authorities.

News of the proclamation was shared in an online press release by the office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.

The move would be a response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles County, home to more than 10 million residents and one of the largest immigrant populations in the United States.

The county can now offer to financially support residents who were affected by the raids, including rent relief and accessing public funds for any legal aid.

“What is happening in our communities is an emergency and Los Angeles County is treating it as such,” 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 targeted by federal actions,” she added.

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Protesters clashed with authorities in July during an immigration raid on a marijuana farm north of Los Angeles. (KABC LA)

The notice of proclamation, dated October 9, indicated that it would remain in effect until terminated by the Board of Supervisors.

County departments have been ordered to “take emergency action as necessary to protect and stabilize communities affected by federal immigration enforcement,” it reads.

County supervisors voted 4-1 in favor of the emergency proclamation to mobilize county resources and support affected communities despite possible legal challenges from the federal government.

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Police respond to anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles in June. LA County announced a state of emergency Tuesday following a recent surge in ICE raids in the city. (Oliya Scootercaster/FreedomNewsTV)

County officials said the raids have “created a climate of fear, resulting in widespread disruptions to daily life and negative impacts on our regional economy,” including reduced attendance at workplaces, temporary or permanent business closures and increased pressure on schools, hospitals and places of worship.

Supervisor Janice Hahn said the emergency declaration was necessary to address “the fear, pain and disorder that these ICE raids are causing in our community.”

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“We have entire families who are left destitute because their fathers or mothers have been removed from their workplace,” she said. “I want our immigrant communities to know that we are in this emergency with them,” she added.

Supervisor Holly Mitchell also added that the raids encouraged others to commit acts of race-based violence and hatred.

A protester holds a sign in front of federal agents at MacArthur Park on Monday, July 7 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

The only vote against the proclamation came from board President Kathryn Barger, who warned that the county’s action could result in legal consequences.

“The federal government has exclusive authority to enforce federal immigration law, and local governments cannot obstruct that authority,” Barger said. “We should instead advocate for meaningful immigration reform that is fair, pragmatic, and creates legal pathways for those who contribute to our communities.”

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In a statement to Fox News Digital, ICE said “the only state of emergency is the one that Los Angeles residents are facing after electing officials who give the middle finger to the law.”

“Perhaps the board should ‘oversight’ funds to support law-abiding fire victims who have yet to recover, instead of criminal illegal aliens seeking refuge in their sanctuary city. Although they are publicly alarmist, I would be shocked if they disagreed with ICE’s removal of a child rapist from their neighborhood,” the spokesperson added. Emily Convington.

Fox News Digital also reached out to Horvath’s office for comment.