LA County Launches $37.6M Rent Relief Program Amid Controversy

Expanded eligibility criteria spark debate over whether funds are being used for unauthorized immigration enforcement.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Los Angeles County has launched a $37.6 million rent relief program to assist residents facing financial hardships due to emergencies, including the recent Eaton and Palisades wildfires. The program, administered by the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, initially focused on small landlords but has now expanded eligibility to include those facing "emergency-related financial hardships associated with federal actions" - a phrase that has sparked controversy over whether the funds are being used to aid undocumented immigrants evading ICE raids.

Why it matters

The rent relief program is intended to prevent mass evictions and stabilize housing in LA County, but the ambiguous language around "federal actions" has led to accusations that the funds are being misused for immigration enforcement purposes rather than disaster relief. This debate reflects broader political tensions around immigration policy in the lead-up to the 2026 elections.

The details

The program initially launched in December 2025 with $23 million in funding, prioritizing small landlords with four units or fewer. It capped assistance at $15,000 per unit, covering six months of rent, mortgage payments, or utilities. In the second round launched on February 9, 2026, the county added $14.6 million and expanded eligibility to include those facing "other emergency-related financial hardships associated with federal actions" alongside wildfire victims. Critics argue this language is deliberately vague and could allow the funds to be used for undocumented immigrants evading ICE raids, while county officials say the expansion is meant to address a variety of emergencies affecting residents.

  • The Eaton and Palisades wildfires ravaged Los Angeles County on January 7, 2025.
  • FEMA declared the disaster on January 8, 2025, enabling federal rental assistance for up to eighteen months.
  • The county launched its Emergency Rent Relief Program through the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs in December 2025.
  • Round 2 of the program launched on February 9, 2026, adding $14.6 million in funding.
  • Round 2 applications will close in March 2026.

The players

Rafael Carbajal

Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs.

Gavin Newsom

Governor of California, who announced $125 million in state mortgage relief and other assistance in response to the wildfires.

David Strom

Conservative critic and writer for Hot Air, who has argued that the program's language about "federal actions" is meant to obscure whether it covers individuals evading ICE raids.

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What they’re saying

“This program exists because our county leadership understands how deeply a variety of emergencies have affected residents.”

— Rafael Carbajal, Director, Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (LA County Emergency Rent Relief Program Offers Comprehensive Technical Assistance)

“The phrase 'federal actions' has become the flashpoint of debate. Conservative critics, notably Hot Air's David Strom, argue the language deliberately obscures whether the program covers individuals evading Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids.”

— David Strom, Conservative Critic (theconservativebrief.com)

What’s next

The real test arrives in March when Round 2 applications close and county officials must account for how many households received aid and under what circumstances.

The takeaway

The controversy over LA County's rent relief program highlights the political tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and the use of taxpayer funds, even in the context of disaster relief. The ambiguous language around "federal actions" has fueled speculation about the program's true intentions, underscoring the need for clear and transparent communication from local officials.