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L.A. County Moves To Designate All County Property as ‘ICE‑Free Zones’ After Unanimous Vote

A brewing clash with federal authorities could test local control of public property.

Overview

  • The Board of Supervisors voted 5–0 to direct staff to draft an ordinance within 30 days restricting civil immigration staging, processing, or operations on county property.
  • The forthcoming draft is expected to require clear signage, physical barriers such as locked gates where appropriate, and permits for any civil enforcement use of county sites.
  • The measure targets civil immigration enforcement only and explicitly preserves service of judicial warrants and criminal law enforcement activity.
  • Federal officials warned the county cannot exclude agents from public spaces, with First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli cautioning that those who impede agents could face arrest.
  • County documents note likely federal litigation and potential jeopardy to more than $1 billion in annual federal funding, as supporters cite recent local operations and reference similar policies in Chicago and Los Angeles city.