PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Los Angeles City Council Passes Motion to Prevent Human Trafficking in the Wake of Natural Disasters

LOS ANGELES, CA — Today, the Los Angeles City Council passed the motion on Preventing Trafficking in the Wake of Natural Disasters, an important step toward ensuring that disaster response efforts in Los Angeles proactively protect residents who are most vulnerable to trafficking during disaster recovery and reconstruction.

This motion moved forward on a day when the Council was grappling with multiple urgent issues impacting marginalized communities, including concerns over persistent ICE raids targeting immigrant immigrant neighborhoods and the deep uncertainty many families are experiencing about their safety and ability to provide for their loved ones. Amid those challenges, this action by the Council is especially specially meaningful. It recognizes that natural disasters can create conditions that increase the risk of human trafficking and exploitation, particularly for residents already facing displacement, employment instability, or fear fueled by the administration’s anti-immigrant rhetoric.

The motion directs the Chief Legislative Analyst, in coordination with the Bureau of Contract Administration, City Attorney, and other relevant departments, to:

• Review the reports from the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) and the Internal Services Department on preventing human trafficking in the wake of natural disasters;
• Provide recommendations on how the County’s best practices can be implemented at the City level; and
• Identify opportunities for the City to coordinate with County efforts to combat trafficking in the aftermath of the January 2025 wildfires and future disaster events.

“There is so much happening in our communities right now, from ICE raids to housing insecurity, and we’re grateful that the City Council still took the time to consider the risk of trafficking and the need to protect vulnerable residents on a day like this,” said Paloma Bustos, Policy Associate at the Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative (SJI). “The motion passed unanimously, which sends a strong message that this is a shared priority across the Council, and we especially appreciate Councilmembers Hugo Soto-Martínez and Traci Park for their continued leadership in bringing this issue forward.”

Since the LA fires, we have been advocating for stronger protections for impacted communities. While LA County has already begun taking important steps, today’s action by the City shows that both the County and the City recognize the need to address the increased risk of trafficking during disasters, showing a strong commitment to confronting the intersectional risks impacting residents. 

Today’s vote sends an important signal that disaster response planning in Los Angeles must include safeguards against trafficking, and that protecting our most vulnerable residents is not an afterthought but a core part of recovery.

Read Full Motion: Prevent Trafficking in the Wake of Natural Disasters