City Council adopts resolution opposing federal housing verification rule; vote 12-0
February 21, 2026 | Los Angeles City, Los Angeles County, California
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The Los Angeles City Council on Feb. 20 approved a resolution opposing a proposed federal rule that would require verification of immigration status for some housing programs, a measure Councilmember Gonzalo Hern e1ndez said would displace mixed-status families and increase homelessness.
Hern e1ndez introduced the motion under council rules and asked the full body to vote on the council'9s findings and justifications before taking public comment. He argued the rule would prevent many mixed-status families from accessing housing assistance and said it would disproportionately harm people of color; he told colleagues "No podemos permitirlo pasar." The council voted to adopt the findings, with staff announcing a 12-0 tally in favor.
Why it matters: Public commenters earlier in the meeting had urged the council to protect housing supports and to be alert to federal policy changes. Council members framed the resolution as a preemptive local response to federal proposals they said would increase housing instability and administrative burden for the city'9s housing programs.
What the resolution does: The measure recorded the council'9s formal opposition to the federal verification proposal and approved findings and justifications that the council will transmit as the city'9s official position. The council then opened a public comment period limited to the motion before finalizing votes; the clerk reported the 12-0 vote in favor.
Process and next steps: The resolution does not by itself change local benefit rules; it records the city'9s opposition and directs staff to transmit the council'9s findings as the city'9s official response to the federal proposal. Councilmembers discussed procedural options (including voting first on findings and then soliciting public comment) consistent with council rules cited by Hern e1ndez. There was no recorded objection to the findings at the time of the vote.
Quotes:
"Estamos aquí porque estamos enfrentando un cat e1strofe de fabricación a causa de los ..." (Gonzalo Hern e1ndez, introducing the motion on behalf of mixed-status families).
The vote: Council staff reported a recorded tally of 12 votes in favor; no no-votes or abstentions were announced on the council floor during the documented tabulation.
What'9s next: The council approved the findings and opened the item to public comment as allowed by council rules; staff will transmit the council'9s adopted findings per usual intergovernmental processes. The council continued with other agenda items after the adopted motion.
Hern e1ndez introduced the motion under council rules and asked the full body to vote on the council'9s findings and justifications before taking public comment. He argued the rule would prevent many mixed-status families from accessing housing assistance and said it would disproportionately harm people of color; he told colleagues "No podemos permitirlo pasar." The council voted to adopt the findings, with staff announcing a 12-0 tally in favor.
Why it matters: Public commenters earlier in the meeting had urged the council to protect housing supports and to be alert to federal policy changes. Council members framed the resolution as a preemptive local response to federal proposals they said would increase housing instability and administrative burden for the city'9s housing programs.
What the resolution does: The measure recorded the council'9s formal opposition to the federal verification proposal and approved findings and justifications that the council will transmit as the city'9s official position. The council then opened a public comment period limited to the motion before finalizing votes; the clerk reported the 12-0 vote in favor.
Process and next steps: The resolution does not by itself change local benefit rules; it records the city'9s opposition and directs staff to transmit the council'9s findings as the city'9s official response to the federal proposal. Councilmembers discussed procedural options (including voting first on findings and then soliciting public comment) consistent with council rules cited by Hern e1ndez. There was no recorded objection to the findings at the time of the vote.
Quotes:
"Estamos aquí porque estamos enfrentando un cat e1strofe de fabricación a causa de los ..." (Gonzalo Hern e1ndez, introducing the motion on behalf of mixed-status families).
The vote: Council staff reported a recorded tally of 12 votes in favor; no no-votes or abstentions were announced on the council floor during the documented tabulation.
What'9s next: The council approved the findings and opened the item to public comment as allowed by council rules; staff will transmit the council'9s adopted findings per usual intergovernmental processes. The council continued with other agenda items after the adopted motion.
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