Los Angeles is reeling from a one-two punch. First, devastating wildfires destroyed more than 16,000 structures, displacing tens of thousands of residents in January. Now, immigration enforcement raids are threatening the city’s ability to rebuild.
Last week, the Department of Homeland Security announced that nearly 2,800 people had been arrested in a series of sweeping immigration raids across the city. The announcement sent shockwaves through L.A.’s immigrant communities, and subsequently rattled the contractors, builders, and homeowners trying to piece the city back together.
The labor the city desperately needs to recover is now going underground. Experts say the raids have created a chilling effect that could mean blown budgets, delayed rebuilds, and deferred dreams of recovery…