An hour before closing, a once-bustling salon on Mission Street in San Francisco stands eerily quiet. Tania, the salon owner, sits behind the counter, visibly fatigued, and describes her current state of affairs in stark terms: “Surviving.”
Since the initiation of ICE raids across Los Angeles in June, Tania notes that her business has plummeted by 70%. Much of her clientele consists of undocumented residents who are now apprehensive about going out, impacting their ability to spend money.
The block outside used to be lively, Tania recalls. “A few months back, this was all busy,” she says while pointing through the front windows at her surroundings. In an effort to attract customers, a nearby taqueria has resorted to setting up a taco station on the sidewalk.
Tania suspects that her clients are largely staying home, while some are even returning to Mexico to escape the escalating tensions. “I’ve been speaking to some of my clients from Mexico,” she explains, “They’re escaping. They’re returning to Mexico.”
Although Tania has no intention of leaving her home in San Francisco, she feels her livelihood hanging by a thread. Following a recent theft in which a client stole her purse containing essential documents—her driver’s license, Social Security card, and work authorization—Tania has been carrying her papers with her everywhere in fear of losing them or facing deportation.
“I’ve been in the U.S. 31 years, longer than I lived in Mexico,” Tania says, tears welling in her eyes. “My whole life is here—my kids, everything. Just imagine that, leaving all that we’ve accomplished behind.”
She understands the dangers of using Medi-Cal for her high blood pressure, as it could hinder her chances of attaining permanent residency, especially with President Donald Trump’s administration making clear that they want undocumented immigrants to avoid public services.
Tania fears for the future of her salon, contemplating the possibility of closing it when her lease expires in 2026 if conditions do not improve.
The atmosphere of fear and uncertainty is echoed in the experiences of others in the community. Susana, who has also felt the effects of the raids, explains in Spanish how she quit her job out of concern for her safety.
Initially, she and her partner Ramon wanted to remain in San Francisco, a city they viewed as supportive of undocumented individuals. But as immigration raids intensified, even the familiar territory of the Bay Area began to feel unsafe. Ramon shares a troubling incident when he lost cell service while working in Santa Cruz, leading his loved ones to panic, fearing he had been arrested by ICE.
With the situation worsening, the couple made the difficult decision to leave California. The Trump administration’s immigration policy has been associated with an overarching campaign promoting self-deportation, further fueling their anxiety.
In May, President Donald Trump announced that undocumented individuals willing to leave the U.S. could receive $1,000 and a flight back to their home country, although it was noted that Ramon and Susana do not qualify for this program as it only applies to individuals intercepted by Border Patrol when trying to enter the U.S.
They are now preparing for their move back to El Salvador, planning to take a camping trip to Lake Tahoe as a farewell. The to-do list for their departure includes painting their apartment to recover their security deposit and moving out their furniture.
Ramon’s heart is heavy as he thinks about leaving the life they built over the years in San Francisco, especially his young niece Lilian. “My wife and I were there at the hospital when she was born,
image source from：sfstandard
