Immigration Raids in LA Cost Over $1 Billion

Protests and business disruptions from aggressive immigration enforcement take major economic toll

Feb. 9, 2026 at 6:15pm

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California officials say last summer's immigration raids and subsequent protests around Los Angeles cost more than $1 billion in lost productivity, sales and wages. The report found businesses disclosed about $200,000 in losses from vandalism, and 17,000 people stopped riding public transit. L.A. officials condemned the raids as unnecessary and unwanted in a community that has long welcomed immigrants as a vital part of the economy.

Why it matters

The aggressive immigration enforcement sparked widespread protests and disrupted businesses, highlighting the economic importance of immigrant communities in Los Angeles. The report underscores the significant economic impact that heavy-handed immigration policies can have on local communities.

The details

The new report commissioned by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors found that in addition to widespread graffiti, participants also lit multiple vehicles on fire, including at least one police SUV. The raids and protests prompted Trump to deploy the National Guard and U.S. Marines, which then sparked even larger protests. Undocumented workers generate more than $250 billion in economic output annually, support more than 1 million jobs and contribute $80 billion in labor to the county's economy, officials said.

  • The immigration raids and protests occurred in early June 2025.
  • The report was released on February 9, 2026.

The players

L.A. County Board of Supervisors

The government body that commissioned the report on the economic impact of the immigration raids and protests.

President Donald Trump

The former U.S. president whose aggressive immigration enforcement policies sparked the protests in Los Angeles.

Janice Hahn

A Los Angeles County Fourth District Supervisor who condemned the "out-of-control ICE raids" for doing "senseless and catastrophic harm" to the local economy.

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What they’re saying

“The out-of-control ICE raids are doing senseless and catastrophic harm to our country, and we are seeing the toll right here in LA County. They are ripping apart families, treating our neighborhoods like warzones, and now we have hard data about the damage they are doing to our economy.”

— Janice Hahn, Los Angeles County Fourth District Supervisor

“I learned that maybe we could use a little bit of a softer touch. But you still have to be tough.”

— Donald Trump (NBC Nightly News)

What’s next

The report's findings are expected to inform policy discussions around immigration enforcement and its economic impacts in Los Angeles and across California.

The takeaway

This report highlights the significant economic toll that aggressive immigration enforcement can have on local communities, underscoring the need for balanced policies that consider the vital role immigrants play in the economy.