LOS ANGELES, CA –  In response to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, the Housing Rights Center (HRC) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to protecting the housing rights of all residents, regardless of immigration status. These enforcement actions have created widespread fear and uncertainty within immigrant and non-immigrant communities, emphasizing the urgent need for greater awareness of fair housing rights and protections.

 

The Immigrant Tenant Protection Act is a California law that explicitly prohibits landlords from discriminating against tenants based on immigration status. This law provides the following critical safeguards:

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• Confidentiality of Immigration Status: Landlords are strictly prohibited from disclosing a tenant’s immigration status to government authorities or third parties and cannot threaten to report tenants to the immigration authorities.

• Protection from Harassment and Retaliation: Tenants are protected from threats or actions intended to intimidate or retaliate against them based on their immigration status.

• Ban on Eviction Based on Immigration Status: Evicting tenants solely due to their immigration status is illegal and actionable under the law.

 

“Landlords cannot use immigration status or the threat of immigration enforcement to intimidate or displace tenants,” said Javier Beltran, Deputy Director of the Housing Rights Center. “Now more than ever, it’s critical that communities know this law protects them.”

 

The Housing Rights Center remains steadfast in its dedication to upholding the rights of all tenants.  If you have experienced housing discrimination based on your immigration status, or any other protected characteristic (such as race, religion, disability, familial status, and more), contact the Housing Rights Center for free counseling at 1 (800) 477-5977 (TTY: 1 (213) 201-0867), or visit www.housingrightscenter.org/get-help.

Download a copy of the full press release here.
 

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Housing Rights Center (HRC) is a non-profit organization established in 1968 to actively support and promote equal opportunity and freedom of residence to all persons without regard to their race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, familial status, disability, marital status, ancestry, age, source of income, or other characteristics protected by law. The Center engages in activities – including outreach/education, investigation/testing and legal advocacy – to identify barriers to fair housing in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties and to help counteract and eliminate discriminatory housing practices.  

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