The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion Tuesday to explore an ordinance allowing families to recover an employee's last paycheck when the employee is unavailable, regardless of immigration status. The ordinance, if adopted, would apply only to small businesses in unincorporated areas of the county.
The motion, authored by Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis and coauthored by Third District Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, responds to a growing need among families whose loved ones have been detained or deported during ongoing immigration raids.
"In these unprecedented times, the county must continue exploring every opportunity to support our most vulnerable residents," said Solis. "This motion is about ensuring we provide a pathway for families and workers to receive their hard-earned last paycheck, regardless of immigration status."
The action builds on work launched in July 2025, when the board approved a motion by Solis addressing immigration issues affecting workers, including care of property and animals left behind when individuals are detained or deported and assistance for impacted small businesses.
In October 2025, California Senate Bill 294 was signed into law, requiring employers to provide written notice to existing and new hires about their legal rights in the workplace. However, persistent immigration enforcement has shown many families still struggle to access an employee's final paycheck.
"No family should have to worry about losing a loved one's paycheck because of federal immigration actions, yet it is our reality, created by the Trump administration, which underscores the harm being done in our communities," said Horvath.
In addition to reviewing the feasibility of an ordinance, the motion directs county departments to develop a communication strategy to educate and guide employers. It also instructs the county's Chief Executive Office, Legislative Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations branch to support statewide legislative proposals requiring employers to offer employees a designation form.
Edited by SMDP Staff