Residents urge City Council to extend tenant legal contracts as commenters describe ICE raids and school impacts

Dozens of residents and service providers told the Los Angeles City Council during public comment that recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the city has left families and schoolchildren frightened and that a city-contracted tenant legal-services program identified in comments as “State House” must be extended and fully funded or services will lapse.

Speakers said the enforcement actions have reduced attendance at community events and left students anxious or withdrawn. Educators and school staff described students who stopped attending classes or who visibly trembled after witnessing enforcement activity. At least one speaker said students saw arrests near a local Burger King and that schools had to enact safety protocols for 40 students who witnessed agents detaining two people outside a business.

The comments centered on two related requests: to extend contractual funding for the tenant legal-services program and to prevent a service gap that witnesses said would begin July 1. Matthew Carson, who said he has “benefited tremendously” from the program, asked…