Immigration raids plunge LA Fashion District
ICE Raids Leave Los Angeles Restaurants in Crisis
Nayomie Mendoza, owner of Cuernavaca’s Grill in the Fashion District, has seen a sharp decline in foot traffic as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conduct raids aimed at deporting undocumented residents.
Impact on Local Business
- Sales at Cuernavaca’s Grill have dropped by 80 % compared to the early summer season.
- Empty tables and a lack of visitors are now commonplace in the once‑bustling neighborhood of boutiques and shops.
- Delivery orders have become the restaurant’s “saving grace” in the wake of lower in‑store patronage.
Responding to the Threat
Los Angeles, a “sanctuary city” with a significant Latino workforce, has been targeted by the Trump administration since January. After ICE raids triggered unrest and protests, the federal government dispatched the National Guard and U.S. Marines to quell the disruption. The atmosphere remains tense.
“Better get used to us now,” says U.S. Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino. “The federal government is not leaving LA. This is going to be normal very soon. We will go anywhere, anytime we want in Los Angeles.”
Comparison to the Pandemic
Mendoza refers to the current crisis as “worse than COVID”. Even during mandatory lockdowns, restaurants were still drawing customers. Now, behind the fear induced by ICE, the community has faced complete economic crisis.
Manuel Suarez, a veteran street vendor in the Fashion District, echoes this sentiment. “Now it’s completely in crisis,” he told AFP. He added that many shops have closed or cut employees due to sales drops.
“Cat and Mouse” Game
Jose Yern, manager of Anita’s Bridal Boutique, notes that “fear has set in” among the Latin community. Shopkeepers use walkie‑talkies to report any noise, helicopters, or law‑enforcement presence, warning undocumented patrons.
“It’s unfortunate that the government does not understand that when it attacks us, we all lose,” says a vendor who declined to disclose his name. “But we are not leaving. The game ahead is cat and mouse. Let’s see who tires out first.”
