LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles County officials will vote Tuesday on whether to declare a state of emergency that would give them power to assist residents experiencing financial difficulties due to federal immigration raids. If approved, this declaration will allow the LA County Board of Supervisors to provide much-needed rent relief for tenants who have fallen behind as a result of the crackdown on immigrants. The state of emergency can also be used to allocate state funds for legal aid and various support services.
The rent assistance will be accessible through an online application portal, which is expected to be set up within two months. Additionally, this motion could pave the way for an eviction moratorium, contingent upon further discussions among supervisors.
Landlords, however, are worried about another financial blow following the prolonged ban on evictions and rental increases during the COVID-19 pandemic. They argue that the immigration-related disruptions will only add to their already significant losses.
Since June, the Los Angeles area has been a focal point of the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies that have led to protests and deployments of national guard troops. Federal agents have been reported rounding up undocumented immigrants from various locations. Local officials, such as Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, claim these raids have instilled fear and instability within families and businesses.
In previous meetings, some supervisors expressed their intent to push back against these federal actions, hoping this declaration would act as a first step in providing relief for those affected by these immigration policies. Supervisor Kathryn Barger, however, voted against the motion, questioning the criteria of an emergency and warning that it could lead to challenges for landlords.
The outcome of the vote will largely determine the support structure for those impacted as Los Angeles continues to grapple with the ramifications of aggressive immigration enforcement.
The rent assistance will be accessible through an online application portal, which is expected to be set up within two months. Additionally, this motion could pave the way for an eviction moratorium, contingent upon further discussions among supervisors.
Landlords, however, are worried about another financial blow following the prolonged ban on evictions and rental increases during the COVID-19 pandemic. They argue that the immigration-related disruptions will only add to their already significant losses.
Since June, the Los Angeles area has been a focal point of the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies that have led to protests and deployments of national guard troops. Federal agents have been reported rounding up undocumented immigrants from various locations. Local officials, such as Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, claim these raids have instilled fear and instability within families and businesses.
In previous meetings, some supervisors expressed their intent to push back against these federal actions, hoping this declaration would act as a first step in providing relief for those affected by these immigration policies. Supervisor Kathryn Barger, however, voted against the motion, questioning the criteria of an emergency and warning that it could lead to challenges for landlords.
The outcome of the vote will largely determine the support structure for those impacted as Los Angeles continues to grapple with the ramifications of aggressive immigration enforcement.
