A Proclamation of Local Emergency for Federal Immigration Actions has been passed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
The emergency declaration was approved by a 4-1 vote on Tuesday.
According to officials, the motion, which was introduced by Third District Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath and Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn, allows the county to mobilize resources, expedite contracting and procurement, coordinate interagency response and request state and federal assistance to protect and stabilize communities that have been impacted by federal immigration raids.
The board says that the raids and federal enforcement tactics have caused widespread fear, led to decreased attendance at workplaces, caused disruption of local economies and strained critical services like schools, hospitals and places of worship across L.A. County – which is home to more than three million immigrants.
“What’s happening in our communities is an emergency — and Los Angeles County is treating it like one,” said Supervisor 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.”
“What’s happening across Los Angeles County is an emergency. It may not be a wildfire or an earthquake, but it is a man-made emergency — created by our own federal government,” added Supervisor Hahn. “I want our residents to know that we are in this crisis with them – and I want us to have every tool at our disposal in this effort. For that reason, I think this emergency proclamation is not just symbolically important as a message to our residents, but critical to our response moving forward.”
Board officials say the state of emergency proclamation, which authorizes all county departments to take “necessary…actions to protect and stabilize communities” impacted by the raids will remain in effect until they decide to terminate it.
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