After a year of devastating fires and ICE raids, Los Angeles is showing signs of recovery—but post-traumatic stress and avoidance of public life remain a part of life for many residents, according to LABarometer’s latest survey.
The year 2025 was full of challenges for residents of Los Angeles County, including deadly and destructive wildfires in the Pacific Palisades and Eaton neighborhoods, a budget shortfall, immigration raids, and a National Guard deployment.
In the wake of these challenges, we added a series of questions on wildfire and immigration enforcement impacts to the sixth wave of our LABarometer survey on Livability & Affordability. The results of the survey of 1,289 L.A. County residents, fielded from August 28-November 14, show signs of recovery and resilience while also highlighting ongoing racial disparities in immigration enforcement experiences and anxieties. Here are the top five takeaways from our survey:
1. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress have declined by about 50% since the Palisades and Eaton wildfires – but stress levels remain relatively high for evacuees.
In February 2025, we fielded a post-wildfire survey to evaluate the immediate impact of the Palisades and Eaton wildfires on L.A. County residents. At the time, approximately 84% of residents who had been evacuated or left their homes during the wildfires reported one or more symptoms of wildfire-related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), while 46% of those who were not evacuated reported such symptoms.
Nearly seven months later, our Livability & Affordability survey followed up with these respondents to see if symptoms had improved. According to our results, symptom rates for both evacuees and non-evacuees have declined significantly, to 47% and 21%, respectively – a sign of improved mental health. Still, mental health challenges persist for many of those who were displaced. Compared to non-evacuees, the percent of evacuees reporting symptoms of wildfire-related PTSD remains high at 47% – as high as it was for non-evacuees in February.
Fig 1. Wildfire-Related PTSD Symptoms by Month and Evacuation Status
2. Rates of catastrophic thinking about the wildfires have improved, especially for non-evacuees.
In our February survey, we saw high rates of wildfire-related rumination and helplessness, two key dimensions of catastrophic thinking that can lead to mental health problems if unaddressed. Among evacuees, 50% said that they couldn’t stop thinking about the January wildfires and 53% said that they thought there was nothing they could do to stop wildfires from harming them or their home. These numbers were significantly lower for residents who did not evacuate (30% and 44%, respectively).
Since February, however, levels of rumination and perceived helplessness have declined: 26% of evacuees and 12% of non-evacuees now say that they can’t stop thinking about the wildfires, while 39% of evacuees and 30% of non-evacuees say there is nothing they can do to stop wildfires from harming them. These numbers suggest mental health is slowly improving in Los Angeles. That said, we see a sharper decline in catastrophic thinking among non-evacuees compared to evacuees – further evidence that mental health challenges are more persistent for those who were displaced by the fires.
Fig 2. Wildfire Rumination and Helplessness by Month and Evacuation Status
3. Hispanic and Black Angelenos were more likely than other racial or ethnic groups to witness immigration enforcement and raids.
In May 2025, federal officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began to raid workplaces and locations across L.A. County, prompting protests and confrontations, eventually resulting in the federal deployment of the National Guard. About 22% of L.A. County residents surveyed say they have personally witnessed immigration enforcement actions or raids since January 20, 2025. Only 6% say they had personally witnessed any such enforcement prior to January 20, 2025.
Fig 3. Witnessed ICE Operations in LA County
When we look at the breakdown of these results by race and ethnicity, stark disparities emerge. Approximately 32% of Hispanics and 25% of Black respondents say they have witnessed ICE operations in L.A. compared to about 14% of respondents from non-Hispanic White, Asian, or “other” racial or ethnic backgrounds.
Fig 4. Witnessed ICE Operations in LA County by Race
4. Over half of Angelenos avoided or know someone who avoided public life due to “safety concerns” or “recent events” in Los Angeles this year. Rates of avoidance are considerably higher among Hispanics.
After questions on ICE and immigration enforcement, we asked our respondents if they or anyone they know had avoided certain areas or events due to “safety concerns” or “recent events” in Los Angeles. The question was intended to measure the degree to which immigration enforcement actions had impacted public life due to fears of being questioned, detained, or deported. The question was framed broadly due to its sensitive nature and avoided mentions of immigration status or detainment to minimize any fear respondents might have of the question identifying them or people they know as undocumented.
Over 50% of L.A. County residents say they or someone they know has avoided public places, transit, work or school, medical care, or legal/government services due to safety concerns or recent events.
Fig 5. Avoided/Know Someone Who Avoided Areas Due to Safety/Recent Events
At 63%, this avoidance rate is considerably higher among Hispanics, the demographic group most likely to witness immigration enforcement actions in Los Angeles. Due to the phrasing of the question, we cannot definitively conclude this pattern of avoidance is ICE-related. However, our results provide strong suggestive evidence that immigration enforcement actions have deterred individuals, particularly Hispanics, from fully participating in public life in L.A. County.
Fig 6. Avoided Know Someone Who Avoided Areas by Race
5. Angelenos who avoided or know someone who avoided public life this year are less satisfied with their lives than their peers.
Avoiding public life is strongly correlated with overall life satisfaction. About 66% of LA County residents who said they did not avoid or do not know anyone who avoided areas, personal commitments, or services agreed that they were satisfied with their lives. However, of those who said they avoided or knew someone who avoided all six settings and activities we asked about, only 55% agreed that they were satisfied with their lives. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in life satisfaction between these groups in the year prior (2024), which suggests these differences only emerged in the past year.
Fig 7. Agree Satisfied with Life by Avoidance
Learn more
To learn more about these and other livability and affordability issues in L.A., check out our tracking report, topline, or visit our website. You can also join our mailing list to receive LABarometer newsletters and survey updates.
About the survey
The LABarometer Livability & Affordability survey tracks neighborhood livability and affordability stress in Los Angeles County, guided by the principle that a livable neighborhood is one in which residents feel happy, healthy, safe, socially connected, and have access to affordable goods, services, and amenities. Wave 6 of the Livability & Affordability survey was fielded from August 28, 2025 – November 14, 2025 and a total of 1,289 Los Angeles County residents participated. Participants were recruited from the LABarometer Panel and the survey completion rate was 71%.