Latino Tenants Sued Landlord After Threatening ICE Message

A Family of Latino Renters Faces Alleged Threats Involving Immigration Authorities

A family of Latino renters in the Los Angeles area is currently involved in a legal battle with their landlord, who allegedly made a thinly veiled threat suggesting that they could be picked up by immigration agents. This incident has occurred amid a broader campaign of immigration raids across the city, raising concerns about the use of fear tactics in housing disputes.

Yicenia Morales, a former tenant, shared her experience with The Los Angeles Times. She expressed frustration over the situation, stating, “I was born here. I have a birth certificate. I pay taxes.” Morales added that she felt hurt, embarrassed, and nervous after the eviction claim. She questioned whether the landlord would actually involve immigration authorities.

Her attorney, Sarah McCracken, described the comments as racist and unethical. “Not only is it unethical and probably illegal, but it’s just a really wild thing to say — especially since my clients are U.S. citizens,” she said. McCracken emphasized that the case did not initially involve her client's race, ethnicity, or immigration status, but the comments shifted the focus.

The controversy began with a June message from Rod Fehlman, an attorney linked to the landlord, Celia Ruiz, and her real estate agent, David Benavides. According to McCracken, Fehlman sent an aggressive message referencing recent ICE arrests. The email reportedly suggested that Morales’s clients might be picked up by ICE before the trial, citing the Trump administration’s efforts in immigration enforcement.

Fehlman, however, denied making threats and claimed the message was taken out of context. He explained that he was warning about the pattern of ICE agents arresting immigrants at courthouses and immigration offices. Fehlman stated that his email did not mention the citizenship of McCracken’s client and that the comment was used to defame his office.

McCracken noted that she was surprised by the exchange with Fehlman. “We just thought it was irrelevant and an inappropriate way to try and get an edge in the case,” she said. The real estate agent, Benavides, did not respond to requests for comment.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement warning that discrimination, retaliation, or attempts to influence tenants based on their immigration status is illegal. He emphasized the right of all tenants to safe housing and access to housing documents in a language they can understand. Bonta pledged to take action against those who exploit vulnerable tenants during challenging times.

McCracken mentioned that she has encountered similar incidents in the past, where landlords made verbal comments about ICE to tenants. However, she noted that people seem more emboldened to make such comments under the second Trump administration, based on what she has heard from potential clients and colleagues.

Threats involving immigration status have occurred even before the Trump era. In 2019, a New York judge fined a landlord $5,000 and ordered damages for threatening a tenant with ICE if they didn’t pay rent. Earlier this year, an Illinois judge ruled on a similar case dating back to 2022.

Under the Trump administration, there were also reports of individuals impersonating ICE to achieve harmful ends, including a January incident in North Carolina where a man allegedly pretended to be an immigration agent to coerce a woman into having sex. Other cases involved harassment of businesses and intimidation of motorists.

This ongoing issue highlights the need for continued vigilance and protection for tenants facing unfair treatment based on their immigration status.