The Broadacres Marketplace, a significant outdoor market in North Las Vegas known as a center for the Latino community, announced its temporary closure on Saturday, citing “fear and uncertainty” among residents, especially within the immigrant population in Las Vegas.
Management of Broadacres, located near North Las Vegas Boulevard and North Pecos Road, made the announcement via an Instagram post early in the day, emphasizing their decision was made out of concern for the community’s safety.
The post stated, “We do not want any of our customers, vendors, or employees detained at our business.”
This decision follows an increase in immigration enforcement actions across the country, prompted by President Donald Trump’s policies on illegal immigration.
Typically, the North Las Vegas swap meet would draw thousands of visitors every weekend, proudly claiming the title of Nevada’s largest open-air market.
However, on Saturday, the market that ordinarily bustles with activity was noticeably empty, with only a few vendors remaining.
Brianni Monarrez, a local resident, expressed her disappointment at the closure, saying, “It’s pretty devastating to the community. I know, as a family, we like to go out there and spend some of our weekends walking around.”
Monarrez, 22, shared that news of the market’s closure spread swiftly, indicating a collective anxiety among residents.
“Economically, yes, this is going to hurt the area,” she added.
Miguel Salazar, another local who learned about the closure through social media, lamented, “People have been talking about it on Facebook and TikTok. It’s not cool.”
When contacted by the Review-Journal, an ICE spokesperson clarified via email that the agency had not been present at Broadacres at any time.
“ICE was not at the swap meet,” the spokesperson confirmed.
The management’s Instagram post did not provide a timeline for when the market might reopen, stating simply, “We do not have an anticipated date to reopen our marketplace.”
“We are heartbroken to announce this temporary closure, but we cannot in good conscience continue operations while our vendors, customers, and community members are under threat,” the post read.
The marketplace has been a staple in the community since it opened in 1977.
In March 2024, Broadacres served as a campaign stop for then Vice President Kamala Harris, highlighting its significance as a community hub.
The closure has sparked reactions from various lawmakers statewide, with Nevada’s two Democratic U.S. senators, Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, using social media to express their concerns.
Senator Cortez Masto criticized the actions taken by the Trump administration, stating, “Instead of focusing on criminals, Trump is indiscriminately targeting immigrant communities and pushing places like Broadacres Marketplace to close.
These are innocent Nevadans working hard to build a better life. This president’s campaign of intimidation is cruel and un-American.”
Senator Rosen echoed similar sentiments, calling the situation “devastating and a direct result of the Trump Administration’s indiscriminate mass deportations.”
She emphasized the impact on the community, as approximately 20,000 people visit Broadacres every weekend, saying, “Going after law-abiding immigrants doesn’t just hurt families; it hurts our economy.”
Local Nevada Assemblymember Cecilia González, representing District 16 in Clark County, also shared her perspective, expressing her emotional response to the closure.
“I get emotional when I think about the hardworking families who are under an already difficult economy. This is an economic emergency for hundreds of entrepreneurs and immigrants, many of whom are the essential workforce of Nevada’s economy,” she stated.
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