Posted on 01/27/2025
ONE BIG THING: WHAT TRUMP MEANS FOR LA
Trump wasted no time inserting himself into local LA issues. He signed 15 Executive Orders attacking immigrants on Monday, and during his visit to LA yesterday, he walked back some of his threats to withhold federal fire recovery aid.
Let’s break down Trump’s impact on LA in two critical areas: fire recovery and immigration.
Fire Recovery
FEMA Spending
President Biden issued a disaster declaration just after the fires began, giving FEMA the legal authority to fund response and recovery operations. This ensures immediate needs can be met, even without additional funding from Congress.
Other Federal Funding
While FEMA covers immediate recovery costs, Trump has threatened to attach strings to any further federal aid sent to California.
This unprecedented and unconscionable move risks thousands of livelihoods – Democratic and Republican. We’re committed to exploring every option to make sure this doesn't happen and ensure that families have the federal resources they need to recover.
Special Committee on Recovery
We’re proud to announce our role on the newly formed Special Committee on LA Recovery, which will lead the city’s efforts to ensure a just recovery for all families impacted by the recent tragedy.
As part of this committee, we’ll focus on incorporating resilience into our rebuilding efforts to prevent future disasters, coordinating across city, county, state, and federal agencies to maximize support, and standing up for the affected workers and communities.
Together, we’ll fight for a stronger, safer Los Angeles for everyone.
Immigration
Ending Birthright Citizenship
Trump’s Day One Executive Order to end birthright citizenship has already been struck down by a judge, who called it “blatantly unconstitutional.”
Allowing ICE to go into Churches and Schools
Trump reversed a longstanding policy that prevented ICE agents from entering sensitive areas like churches and schools to conduct deportation raids. This decision evokes horrifying memories of parents being detained by ICE while dropping off their children at school, creating an ever-present fear in immigrant communities.
I spoke with All Things Considered’s Brian Mann to talk about how this order made me think about my own family, and what comes next for the immigrant community.
Other Punitive Immigration Measures
From ending America’s refugee program to initiating mass deportation raids, the Trump administration is aggressively targeting immigrant families.
For more details on the 15 executive orders Trump signed on immigration, check out this breakdown from Alliance San Diego.
How We Can Fight Back
As hard as it is to read the news right now, it’s also more important than ever to get involved in your own community as an antidote to the despair. We don’t have to wait to take action at the city level to protect our most vulnerable:
- Our motion with Councilmember Hernandez to pause rent increases and institute a moratorium on evictions for renters impacted by the fires has been scheduled for a Council vote this Wednesday, January 29.
- In December, we passed a “Sanctuary City” law to prevent city resources or staff from being used for deportations.
- In the coming weeks, we are planning to introduce additional legislation to protect immigrant families.
One More Quick Hit!
1. Updated Homeless Count Dates: February 18-20
The annual Homeless Count helps secure the local, state, and federal resources LA needs to address homelessness compassionately and sustainably. An accurate count is key for funding the programs and services that bring people off the streets, especially considering it had to be rescheduled because of the fires.
This effort depends on community volunteers. Even one night of your time can make a huge difference. Sign up at count.lahsa.org to help.