Businesses in predominantly Latino neighborhoods of Chicago feel that immigration raids have left lasting damage.
The recent departure of Border Patrol Cmdr. Greg Bovino from the area has marked a scaling back of deportation campaigns, but business owners say their communities remain fearful for their safety. Melissa Quintana, founder of the Hermosa Belmont Cragin Chamber of Commerce, said months of low foot traffic forced a local restaurant to shut down and others to lay off staff. Even just this week, a grocery store in the area laid off seven employees.
Quintana fears more empty storefronts will appear in the neighborhood, which has allocated $50,000 to support local businesses through donations from Hangry's and stipends for families affected by Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents.
Foot traffic at El Mercadito restaurant was scarce even before immigration raids intensified this fall. While a handful of diners remained when visited during lunchtime, Neri Guzman, who works there, remains hopeful that customers will return as the federal immigration agents have departed.
In another part of town, Ricardo Rodriguez said foot traffic dropped sharply at his Mexican restaurant Pozoleria El Mexicano. The low numbers forced him to consider closing down, but new white customers helped stem the decline in recent weeks. "These last two months, the increase in white customers has been incredible," he said.
Businesses relying on immigrant families for foot traffic are particularly vulnerable, according to Jennifer Aguilar, executive director of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce. Some have reduced staff hours or laid off employees due to lower sales. The chamber is organizing a social media campaign and planning a free holiday trolley to support local businesses in the area.
Mercedes Ugalde, co-owner of Tortilleria El Rey, said she's counting on a bustling holiday season to help her business recover from the impact of immigration raids. "We just pray that everything goes back to normal," she added.
The recent departure of Border Patrol Cmdr. Greg Bovino from the area has marked a scaling back of deportation campaigns, but business owners say their communities remain fearful for their safety. Melissa Quintana, founder of the Hermosa Belmont Cragin Chamber of Commerce, said months of low foot traffic forced a local restaurant to shut down and others to lay off staff. Even just this week, a grocery store in the area laid off seven employees.
Quintana fears more empty storefronts will appear in the neighborhood, which has allocated $50,000 to support local businesses through donations from Hangry's and stipends for families affected by Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents.
Foot traffic at El Mercadito restaurant was scarce even before immigration raids intensified this fall. While a handful of diners remained when visited during lunchtime, Neri Guzman, who works there, remains hopeful that customers will return as the federal immigration agents have departed.
In another part of town, Ricardo Rodriguez said foot traffic dropped sharply at his Mexican restaurant Pozoleria El Mexicano. The low numbers forced him to consider closing down, but new white customers helped stem the decline in recent weeks. "These last two months, the increase in white customers has been incredible," he said.
Businesses relying on immigrant families for foot traffic are particularly vulnerable, according to Jennifer Aguilar, executive director of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce. Some have reduced staff hours or laid off employees due to lower sales. The chamber is organizing a social media campaign and planning a free holiday trolley to support local businesses in the area.
Mercedes Ugalde, co-owner of Tortilleria El Rey, said she's counting on a bustling holiday season to help her business recover from the impact of immigration raids. "We just pray that everything goes back to normal," she added.
u gotta feel for these Latino bizzies in Chicago 
their communities got majorly messed up by them immigration raids... i mean, a local restaurant had to shut down cuz nobody was showin' up 
and now some ppl r losin their jobs too 
its not just the immigrants who are sufferin', either - it's the entire community 
they need that $50k from Hangry and those stipends ASAP 
to get things goin again
It's just not right. And yeah, I wish there was more support for them - like the $50k donation from Hangry's is a good start, but it's gonna take a lot more than that to make up for what they've lost.
what's going on with our country?
it's like, you're already struggling to make ends meet and then the gov't comes in and kinda freezes everything... businesses shutting down left and right 
what's gonna happen to all those employees? 
i hope that holiday season brings some relief for them 
Maybe the departure of Border Patrol Cmdr. Greg Bovino was a good thing for them... or not 
. What I'm trying to say is, I hope the community comes together and supports each other more. It's heartbreaking to see small businesses struggling 
. Even if Border Patrol Cmdr Bovino is gone, I'm sure his departure made things slightly better for these business owners. They need help and support ASAP 
, not just donations but also some serious policy changes to address the root of the issue 
.
I mean we all know how unpredictable this immigration system can be, one day you're good, next day youre raided and forced to shut down 
. Those business owners who are counting on a "bustling" holiday season... I hope they get more than just prayers for it 
. Like, that chamber of commerce is doing everything they can to help out, from donations to stipends... it's amazing 
. It's not a silver bullet or anything, but it's definitely a start 
. And let's be real, those holiday sales are gonna be HUGE 
any small increase in white customers at posoleria el mexicano is a good sign, but let's not forget the ones who aren't lucky enough to get new customers 
what's up with the federal gov't not doing more to support these local businesses? $50k from hangry's and stipends for families ain't gonna cut it 
. I can imagine how hard it must be for these business owners, seeing the livelihoods of family members and friends being put at risk. It's not just about the financial struggles, but also the emotional toll that comes with feeling like you're always walking on eggshells. What really gets me is that even when Border Patrol Cmdr. Bovino left, the businesses are still dealing with the aftermath 
. I hope that soon things will start to pick up and these communities can feel safe again 
. I mean, can't we just talk about this stuff like humans instead of being all xenophobic and stuff? These immigrants are contributing members of society, and they deserve our respect and understanding 
.
. Maybe we can all learn something from this experience about the importance of community and understanding 
especially when you got a whole bunch of small businesses relying on immigrant customers... i just hope the social media campaign and holiday trolley thingy helps, but also hope it sparks some real change 
.
.
. And what really gets me is that these neighborhoods have been in Chicago for years, and they've always contributed so much to the community.
.