LA County Supervisors reject expanding rent debt protection

Immigrant community faces fear, economic insecurity from ICE raids

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors rejected a motion to expand the duration and scope of rent debt protection for tenants affected by recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Many residents spoke emotionally about living in constant fear, unable to go to work, and facing potential eviction due to lost income from the raids. While the board approved a two-month rent debt protection in unincorporated areas, the rejected motion would have extended the protection to three months and applied it across all 88 cities in the county.

Why it matters

The ICE raids have caused significant disruption and economic hardship for immigrant communities in LA County, with many residents afraid to go to work and falling behind on rent payments. Expanding rent debt protection could have provided crucial support, but the rejection of the motion leaves many tenants vulnerable to eviction.

The details

The board rejected a motion by Supervisor Lindsey Horvath to pause eviction notices until after three months of rent debt and apply that protection countywide. Horvath's motion did not receive a second. Property managers, landlords, and apartment owner groups opposed the expansion, arguing it would turn landlords into "involuntary lenders" and create "greater legal chaos" by conflicting with local city ordinances. The board did approve a two-month rent debt protection, but only for unincorporated county areas, leaving out 90% of the county.

  • The ICE raids began in Los Angeles County in June 2025.
  • The Board of Supervisors declared a countywide emergency in October 2025 in response to the raids.
  • The board voted on the rent debt protection motion on February 10, 2026.

The players

Lindsey Horvath

Third District Supervisor on the LA County Board of Supervisors who introduced the motion to expand rent debt protection.

Esmerelda

A resident who spoke about living in fear and not being able to go to work due to the ICE raids.

Antonio Martinez

A resident who told the board "We live in constant fear. It feels like terrorism."

Bijan Ghaemi

An organizer with the Community Power Collective, a coalition of tenant rights groups.

Amanda Garza

A representative from a property management company who argued the expanded protection would be unsustainable for landlords.

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What they’re saying

“The raids continue and they keep us terrorized. A lot of us are not able to go out to work without fear.”

— Esmerelda

“We live in constant fear. It feels like terrorism.”

— Antonio Martinez

“This will turn landlords into involuntary lenders. That level of loss is not sustainable.”

— Amanda Garza, Property management company representative

What’s next

The two-month rent debt protection approved by the board still needs to be put into an ordinance and faces another vote by the Board of Supervisors in the near future.

The takeaway

The rejection of expanded rent debt protection leaves many immigrant tenants in LA County vulnerable to eviction and economic hardship due to the disruptive impact of the ICE raids. This highlights the ongoing tensions between protecting vulnerable communities and the concerns of property owners and landlords.