Los Angeles declared a state of emergency in reaction to immigration raids occurring throughout the city as California increases its opposition to President Trump.

This decisive action aims to support Los Angeles residents targeted by ICE, while Governor Gavin Newsom prepares for a potential bid for the Democratic nomination in the 2028 presidential race.

Attorney General Pam Bondi blasted the action during an interview on Fox News on Tuesday night. 

Sean Hannity asked Bondi whether California’s move to provide rent relief for tenants who have fallen behind as a result of the ICE was illegal.

‘It is,’ Bondi said bluntly. 

Nearly a third of the 10 million people who live in the county are born outside the US, meaning it could affect a massive chunk of the population. 

Trump’s leading law enforcement official subsequently criticized Democrats for their fundraising efforts amid the government shutdown. Bondi stated that all federal law enforcement officials were likely ‘not receiving a paycheck’ this week because of the stoppage.

ICE told Fox News Digital that the ‘only state of emergency is the one the residents of Los Angeles face after electing officials who give a middle finger to the law.’

Spokesperson Emily Convington suggested that the money should instead go to legal residents who were affected by recent fires.

‘Perhaps the board should ‘supervise’ funds to aid law-abiding fire victims who still haven’t recovered, instead of criminal illegal aliens seeking refuge in their sanctuary city,’ Convington remarked.

‘While they publicly fear-monger, I would be shocked if they didn’t agree with ICE removing a child rapist from their neighborhood.’ 

Trump spokesperson Abigail Jackson slammed the entire Democrat Party in a statement to Newsweek. 

‘The real emergency is the countless criminal illegal aliens that Joe Biden let waltz across our Southern Border and terrorize American communities. President Trump is fulfilling the promise he was elected on – deporting criminal aliens – whether Democrat politicians like it or not.’ she said. 

Democrat California Governor Gavin Newsom posted a video bashing Trump’s handling of the situation, without endorsing the move by the county.

The clip was a commercial promoting Prop 50, Newsom’s attempt to re-district California to gain Democrats more seats in Congress.  

‘Donald Trump wants to take over American cities with the military. And he’s just getting started,’ Newsom wrote.

The video quotes Trump himself, suggesting that ‘American cities be used as training grounds for the military.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for comment.  

The ICE raids taking place across greater Los Angeles have spread fear throughout immigrant communities, prompting many to limit their outings and stop going to work. 

Federal agents have rounded up immigrants without legal status from Home Depots, car washes, bus stops, and farms. Some U.S. citizens have also been detained.

The local state of emergency can also funnel state money for legal aid and other services. 

Under the order, funds for rent will be available to people who apply via an online portal that would be launched within two months, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath’s office said. 

The motion could also be a first step toward an eviction moratorium, but that would require a separate action by the supervisors.

Landlords worried it could be another financial hit after an extended ban on evictions and rental increases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The declaration was passed by a 4-1 vote, with Supervisor Kathryn Barger opposing.

Horvath and Supervisor Janice Hahn said the raids have spread fear and destabilized households and businesses. 

In late August, there were more than 5,000 arrests in Los Angeles as part of the crackdown. 

About a third of the county´s 10 million residents are foreign-born. Several cities in the region canceled their Fourth of July celebrations and summer movie nights as families stayed home due to safety concerns.

Since June, the Los Angeles region has been a battleground in the Trump administration´s aggressive immigration strategy that spurred protests and the deployment of the National Guards and Marines for more than a month.

‘We have residents afraid to leave their homes, we have constituents contacting my office because their family members never came home and they don´t know if they’ve been taken by ICE or where they´ve been taken,’ Hahn said. 

‘We have entire families who are destitute because their fathers or mothers have been taken from their work places and they have no way to pay their rent or put food on their table.’

Last week the five-member board voted 4-1 to put the declaration up for a vote at its regular Tuesday meeting. 

The sole ‘no’ vote also came from Barger, who argued that the immigration raids did not meet the criteria of an emergency and that it could be unfair to landlords.

‘I´m sure we´re going to be challenged legally,’ Barger said. The county’s eviction moratorium during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in multiple lawsuits.

Several people said they were against the emergency declaration if it would lead to an eviction moratorium during the public comment portion of Tuesday´s vote.

Landlords are ‘still reeling’ from the COVID-era freezes that cost them ‘billions of dollars in uncollected rent and prohibited annual rent increase,’ said Daniel Yukelson, CEO of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles.

He said housing providers are sympathetic to tenants and their family members affected by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities. 

But, he said, the association isn’t aware of anyone unable to pay rent due to immigration enforcement.

‘If local jurisdictions once again allow rent payments to be deferred due to ICE enforcement activities, this will lead to the further deterioration and loss of affordable housing in our community,’ Yukelson said Monday.