Los Angeles County declared a state of emergency Tuesday in response to immigration enforcement operations taking place across the region.
The declaration passed by a 4-1 vote during a regular board meeting.
The emergency order will provide assistance to Los Angeles residents targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) has positioned the state as a hub of resistance to President Trump’s immigration policies as he eyes a potential 2028 presidential run.
Attorney General Pam Bondi responded sharply to the county’s action during a Tuesday night Fox News interview.
When host Sean Hannity asked whether California’s move to provide rent relief for tenants affected by ICE operations was illegal, Bondi answered, “It is.”
The attorney general also criticized Democrats for fundraising during the ongoing government shutdown.
Bondi noted that all federal law enforcement officers were “probably not getting a paycheck” this week due to the stoppage.
Nearly one-third of Los Angeles County’s 10 million residents were born outside the United States.
The emergency declaration could impact a substantial portion of the population.
ICE responded forcefully to the county’s emergency declaration in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Spokesperson Emily Convington said 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.”
Convington suggested the funds should support legal residents affected by recent wildfires instead.
“Perhaps the board should ‘supervise’ funds to support law-abiding fire victims who still haven’t recovered, instead of criminal illegal aliens seeking refuge in their sanctuary city,” Convington stated.
The ICE spokesperson added another pointed comment.
“While they publicly fear-monger, I would be shocked if they didn’t agree with ICE removing a child rapist from their neighborhood,” Convington said.
Trump spokesperson Abigail Jackson issued a statement to Newsweek condemning the entire Democratic Party.
“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.
Newsom posted a video criticizing Trump’s approach to the situation without directly endorsing the county’s emergency declaration.
The clip promoted Proposition 50, Newsom’s initiative to re-district California to gain Democrats more congressional seats.
“Donald Trump wants to take over American cities with the military. And he’s just getting started,” Newsom wrote.
The video featured Trump quotes suggesting that “American cities be used as training grounds for the military.”
WATCH:
ICE operations across greater Los Angeles have created widespread concern in immigrant communities.
Many residents have reduced their outings and stopped attending work, the Daily Mail has outlined.
Federal agents have detained immigrants without legal status from Home Depots, car washes, bus stops and farms.
The outlet further noted that about one-third of the county’s 10 million residents are foreign-born.
Several cities in the region canceled Fourth of July celebrations and summer movie nights as families remained home due to safety concerns.
