By Nada Hussein, NLIHC Research Analyst, State and Local Innovation
On February 12, 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm ET, NLIHC will host the next State and Local Tenant Protections Network (Network) call, focusing on the imposition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids on immigrant communities, including how the recent surgency of ICE’s presence in communities across the nation has had detrimental impacts for the housing sector and the safety of the most vulnerable communities. The call will also focus on the efforts of state and local housing advocates to strengthen the rights of renter households in the face of displacement due to arrests, detentions, or harassing and discriminatory behaviors perpetuated by landlords and property owners.
Register for the next Network call here!
NLIHC launched its State and Local Tenant Protections Network call in April 2024 to support state and local housing advocates in their work to advance tenant protections in their communities. Tenant protections are laws, policies, and programs that can be codified through law, upheld through court rulings, passed through administrative rule, or enacted through executive orders to protect renters against the threat of eviction and ensure that renters are able to access safe, stable, and affordable housing. Through the Network, NLIHC provides an informal meeting space for housing advocates, tenants and tenant leaders, legal service providers, and academics with the opportunity to co-work through challenges and areas of opportunity for advancing tenant protections, share resources with each other, and receive technical support. The Network meets bi-monthly on the second Thursday of the month.
An agenda for this Thursday’s call can be found below:
Welcome Back – Nada Hussein, NLIHC
Opportunities to engage
NLIHC’s FEMA Act Sign-on Letter
New America’s Eviction Data Response Network 2026 Cohort – Applications due 3/3/2026 at 5:00 pm ET
Understanding the Current Moment – Ramina Davidson, NLIHC
Broadening our Context: How ICE Raids Impact Immigrant Communities – Kenza Idrissi Janati, NLIHC
Discussion/Q&A
Has your community seen an uptick in immigration enforcement? What concerns are most prominent in your area or state?
What groups within your communities are working on-the-ground to address the needs of tenants around this issue?
What messaging strategies are these groups using to quell the fears of community members?
Are you aware of any policy proposals in your area that have been put forward to address the presence of ICE in your communities?
What resources, tools, or supports would be most impactful for understanding or addressing the issues communities are facing? What barriers do you need to overcome?
Closing and Next Steps
If you have any questions regarding NLIHC’s State and Local Tenant Protections Network, please contact NLIHC’s research team at [email protected]