Los Angeles County is preparing for the upcoming presidency by passing several motions and allocating millions of dollars to support immigrants and transgender residents, who might face challenges under President-elect Donald Trump's administration.
Previously, Trump has expressed anti-transgender rhetoric and plans for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. The county, on the other hand, is known for its progressive stance, having passed several measures aimed at resisting such policies.
One of the supervisors of the Los Angeles County governing board, Holly Mitchell, said Tuesday that this preparation might be the first of many actions needed to address anticipated challenges under the new Trump administration, reflecting concerns about defending California's values and residents, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Ahead of Tuesday's vote, dozens of people gathered outside the county building, waving flags in support of the transgender "wellness and equity" initiative.
This action came as Trump argued that the U.S. should only recognize two genders -- male and female -- assigned at birth. He also promised to stop federal funds from being used for gender transition, which could restrict access to medical procedures for transgender individuals who depend on programs like Medicaid.
Supervisors Hilda Solis and Janice Hahn proposed a motion to allocate $5.5 million in the ongoing funding for legal services to assist immigrants.
The motion has been approved unanimously by a 4-0 vote, including the creation of a county task force to address federal immigration policy and a campaign to educate immigrants about their legal rights.
The proposal comes in response to increasing concerns about challenges immigrants may face in the coming months. Solis' office already experienced a rise in calls from individuals seeking urgent legal assistance, reflecting the growing need for support.
The only Republican on the board, Supervisor Kathryn Barger, chose to abstain from the vote Tuesday. She pointed out that there was already an immigration crisis under the Biden administration, with some migrants ending up in tents on Skid Row.
During a recent visit to the area, Barger said she had met a 15-year-old mother, who had recently crossed the border.
"These families say the conditions on Skid Row are better than what they came from," Barger said. "I just want to be careful to frame this for what it is — we already have a serious crisis taking place right now."
During Trump's first term, L.A. County took action by stopping county sheriffs from handing over individuals to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement without a court order. However, advocates told the board that this measure hasn't eased the fears of many immigrants concerned about deportation.
Diego Rodrigues, the chief operating officer of Alma Family Services, a community group, shared that since the election, they've heard from many families paralyzed by fear. Some children were terrified that their parents could be deported or that they might be taken away from the only home they've ever known.
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