Signs from a recent protest (Photo – Alex Smith)
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday, June 17, to approve a motion aimed at assessing the economic and workforce impacts of recent immigration raids and mobilizing resources to support affected workers and businesses.
By News Desk
Authored by Chair Pro Tem and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis and coauthored by Supervisor Janice Hahn, the motion follows a series of intensified immigration enforcement actions by the federal government on Friday, June 6. According to County officials, federal agents conducted large-scale raids across Los Angeles County, targeting carwashes, Home Depot parking lots, public streets, churches, restaurants, and other locations—often without identifying themselves or adhering to due process.
“These raids are ripping people away from their families, leaving their loved ones without the breadwinners they depend on to pay rent and buy groceries, and undermining entire sectors of our local economy,” said Supervisor Hahn. “In immigrant communities like Huntington Park, they’re not only being left without workers, they’re losing their customers as well, who are just too afraid to leave their homes.”
In response to the federal government’s actions, which reportedly include federalizing the California National Guard and deploying Marine Corps units, widespread protests have erupted across Los Angeles. A downtown curfew has further strained small businesses already facing workforce shortages and declining foot traffic.
“The last week and a half have brought undue trauma and instability to our residents in Los Angeles County,” said Supervisor Solis. “The ongoing immigration raids have created a chilling effect, with many families afraid to leave their homes to go to work or to support our beloved businesses. Today’s motion will play a vital role in assessing the impact of the Trump administration’s immigration tactics on our workforce and local economy while mobilizing resources to connect our working families and businesses with essential support.”
The motion directs the County’s Department of Economic Opportunity to work with local agencies and report back within 15 days on the economic fallout—including workforce displacement, property damage, and the effects of curfews. It also calls for coordination among the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs’ Office of Immigrant Affairs, the Small Business Commission, and the Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board to develop culturally responsive services for affected small businesses.
Los Angeles County, home to approximately 10.1 million residents, includes an immigrant population that makes up about one-third of its total. In 2019 alone, immigrants in the County generated an estimated $115 billion in economic activity, contributing to a regional GDP of $960 billion, making it the 19th largest economy in the world.
Local leaders view the motion as a crucial step toward mitigating the long-term consequences of the federal crackdown, warning that it threatens not only immigrant communities but also the region’s broader economic stability.
“We need to understand the broader impact these raids are having on our economy,” Hahn emphasized. “Even as we try to help our communities cope with the immediate pain and fear, we must take action to protect our workforce and our local businesses for the long term.”
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