U.S. News
LA County Funds Aid Businesses Hit by ICE Actions
Clear Facts
- Los Angeles County awarded $1.53 million in grants to 367 small businesses affected by federal immigration enforcement.
- The Small Business Resiliency Fund (SBRF) was set up to help businesses impacted by ICE raids, protests, and property damage in 2025.
- The county’s economic analysis estimated $2.5 billion in lost economic output and over 11,000 job losses linked to recent enforcement actions and unrest.
Just before Christmas, the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity and the Board of Supervisors announced financial support for businesses hurt by immigration enforcement activities.
The Small Business Resiliency Fund was launched to provide relief to those experiencing disruption from ICE operations and related unrest.
“Small businesses are the heart of our communities and the engine of our local economy. When they face disruption and uncertainty, we must step in quickly to protect them,” said Solis in a press release.
“The Small Business Resiliency Fund is a vital lifeline, giving business owners and their employees the resources they need to recover, rebuild, and continue serving their communities with strength and confidence,” Solis added.
The fund originated as a motion in June and officially began in September, aiming to help businesses hit hardest by enforcement operations and riot-related damage.
Economic analysis showed significant losses across Los Angeles County, with fiscal impact on government funds and large numbers of jobs affected in downtown and beyond.
At the height of the unrest, buildings were vandalized, vehicles torched, and police came under attack while businesses suffered property damage and lost income.
“These ICE raids aren’t targeting dangerous criminals – they are sweeping up workers. On top of the harm they have caused families, they have been devastating to the small businesses that have lost the employees they rely on and whose customers are afraid to leave their homes,” Hahn stated.
“The goal of these grants is to help these small businesses survive this onslaught. I continue to call on the federal government to recognize the harm these raids are doing both to people and the economy and to stop them immediately.”
Since its launch, the SBRF received thousands of applications and prioritized grants based on factors like location and property damage.
The fund is supported by the Care First Community Investment program, with another $3.33 million allocated to aid more small businesses in need.
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