Disappeared and Displaced, ICE Pushes LA Tenants Toward Evictions

Stories and violent images and videos of ICE in Los Angeles were not enough to convince the Board to act. Unfortunately, politicians often respond only when confronted with quantitative data that cannot be dismissed as mere opportunistic rhetoric. To ensure our concerns were taken seriously, the Rent Brigade, a member of our coalition, gathered the data that became the foundation of this report, Disappeared and Displaced, released in early September. 

The data compiled here offers a troubling snapshot of the economic impact these raids have had on immigrant tenants and workers, revealing a steep drop in income, widespread fears of eviction, and landlord threats to call ICE.

Immigrant renters’ average weekly earnings fell from $799.25 before the raids to $304.57 afterward, a 62% drop.

28% of respondents owe their landlord more than one month’s rent, placing them in significant rental debt and at risk of eviction for unpaid balances.

Immigrant renters reported spending, on average, 42% of their monthly income on rent before the raids. Since the raids began, renters report spending 91% of their income on rent, on average, putting them at dire risk of eviction.

71% of immigrant renters have returned to work out of fear of eviction, despite unsafe or unstable conditions.

1 in 8 respondents reported that their landlord threatened to report them to ICE, adding to their housing insecurity and fear.