Tuesday, December 9, 2025

LA County Board Looks to Protect Paychecks of Detained/Deported Immigrants

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The county Board of Supervisors directed its staff Tuesday to develop an ordinance that would allow a designee of workers in the county to collect their final paycheck if the person is unable to do so, including if the worker has been detained or deported by federal immigration authorities.

“In these unprecedented times, the county must continue exploring every opportunity to support our most vulnerable residents,” Supervisor Hilda Solis said in a statement after the vote. “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 motion asks county staff to report back to the board in 90 days on the feasibility of an ordinance that would require employers to provide workers with a “designation form,” identifying a person authorized to collect a workers’ final paychecks in the event of the employee’s unavailability. It would also require employers to deliver the final paycheck to the worker’s designee.

“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,” Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath said in a statement. “This motion helps ensure that when workers are detained or deported, their families can access the wages they’ve earned to support them while facing such a devastating situation.”