In Los Angeles, the vibrant and bustling fresh produce market, frequented by Hispanic restaurateurs, street vendors, and taco truck operators, has turned into a shadow of its former self.
On June 16, the market was largely deserted, a stark change fueled by a series of immigration raids conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.
Mr. Juan Ibarra, who operates a fruit and vegetable outlet in this market, has seen a dramatic drop in business, describing it as “pretty much a ghost town.”
He noted that his usual daily income of about $2,000 has dwindled to mere $300, a blow that has left him struggling to keep his business afloat amidst escalating rent costs of $8,500 a month.
With the fear instilled by the raids, many of Ibarra’s street vendor customers are in hiding, and restaurant workers are unwilling to venture out to purchase supplies.
The market, home to around 300 workers living in the US illegally, has practically emptied as these individuals have opted to stay home rather than risk deportation.
And in a dire turn of events, for the first time since the raids began, Ibarra was forced to discard rotten fruit, incurring an extra cost to dispose of it properly.
“It’s almost Covid-like. People are scared,” he lamented.
Mr. Ibarra, a US-born citizen of Mexican descent, is not an isolated case.
The repercussions of President Donald Trump’s stringent crackdown on illegal immigration are rippling across Los Angeles and California, affecting small businesses and posing a threat to the local economy.
According to the American Immigration Council, immigrants represent a third of California’s workforce, with 40% of its entrepreneurs being foreign-born.
In view of the significant economic ramifications of ongoing deportation policies, the Trump administration recently adjusted its approach, instructing ICE to temporarily suspend raids on farms, restaurants, and hotels.
Despite these changes, the impact of the raids has already taken its toll.
A significant decrease in customers has hit restaurants hard, as illustrated by the experience of Mr. Pedro Jimenez, 62, owner of a Mexican restaurant in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood.
Jimenez, who has been in business for 24 years, reported a staggering $7,000 drop in weekly earnings.
His establishment, once bustling, was forced to close early on several occasions due to an empty dining room.
“This is really hurting everybody’s business,” he expressed, emphasizing the dire nature of the situation.
Experts like Mr. Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute, have noted that the focus of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement has shifted from targeting individuals with criminal records to conducting widespread workplace raids.
Selee pointed out the potential economic disruption caused by this broader enforcement, which disproportionately affects hard-working immigrants who are an integral part of society.
As fear spreads among immigrant communities in Los Angeles, many are resorting to avoiding work altogether to evade ICE detection.
Luis, a 45-year-old Guatemalan hot dog vendor, shared his apprehensions.
Despite the necessity to earn a living, he revealed that he felt psychologically exhausted from the ongoing threats of deportation.
Having learned of recent ICE sightings at local events, he and fellow vendors decided to vacate the premises quickly.
“This has all been psychologically exhausting,” he confessed, highlighting the difficult balance he must strike between work and safety.
As protests erupt in response to the raids, the Trump administration has deployed National Guard troops and US Marines to Los Angeles, a decision that has sparked controversy and opposition from California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.
The situation reflects a complex interplay of immigration policy, community fear, and the economic realities faced by small business owners in Los Angeles.
With the ongoing uncertainty and fear of deportation, many are left wondering how long this challenging chapter will last for them and their businesses.
In the eyes of those affected, the current climate is proving to be more detrimental than the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic, creating a desperate atmosphere for many across the city.
image source from：https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/immigration-raids-in-los-angeles-hit-small-business-owners-its-worse-than-covid
