Amidst the sirens and helicopter chaos of a turbulent night in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, street vendors persevered, selling tacos and crêpes to the few brave pedestrians. This scene unfolded during a week of intense protests following ICE raids in Southern California, highlighting the resilience of LA's food scene and the anxieties of its workers
Amidst the unrest following the LA Times report of ICE detaining hundreds of immigrants in Southern California, Little Tokyo's normally vibrant streets fell quiet. Four days of protests and clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement gripped downtown Los Angeles on the evening of Monday, June 9th. Even with the sounds of sirens and helicopters, street vendors persevered, serving tacos and crêpes, despite fears of indiscriminate arrests and the economic impact of the civil disobedience
Amidst the Los Angeles protests following ICE raids, Little Tokyo street vendors persevered. Facing potential deportation, undocumented workers like Celeste Sughey continued selling tacos, prioritizing family survival over fear. The risk was real: recent ICE actions in Southern California fueled anxieties among Latino workers, both documented and undocumented, highlighting the precarious economic realities for many
Undocumented LA street vendor Celeste Sughey, fearing ICE raids following recent Southern California immigration arrests, explains, "This is our only job, this is how we survive." The business, unnamed to avoid targeting, exemplifies the precarious lives of many Latino workers in Little Tokyo amidst heightened immigration enforcement
Fear of ICE Raids Impacts Los Angeles Street Vendors: Undocumented Workers and those with legal work permits express concerns about indiscriminate arrests targeting Latino communities following recent ICE actions in Southern California. The crackdown has led to decreased business and widespread fear among vendors, highlighting the impact of immigration enforcement on local businesses and the Latino workforce
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Los Angeles street vendors report a 75% business drop amid ICE raids and protests. Fear of raids and civil unrest, including a city-wide curfew, forced many Little Tokyo vendors to close early, impacting their livelihoods. Undocumented workers, fearing deportation, and those with work authorization, concerned about indiscriminate arrests, describe a climate of fear impacting their businesses
Little Tokyo's usually bustling streets fell silent under a curfew, following days of protests and ICE raids. While the downtown curfew lifted after a week, unease lingers. Local vendors, many undocumented, continued working despite the risk, highlighting the impact of the immigration enforcement actions on their livelihoods and the community
Just five miles away, Koreatown's El Patrón, a family-owned Mexican restaurant, also felt the impact. Owner Benny Moreno (52) serves beloved favorites like tacos, tortas, sopes, and burritos in this densely populated LA neighborhood, home to thriving Korean American and Oaxacan communities
Los Angeles street vendors report significant business decline following recent ICE raids. One vendor, operating for 12 years, notes a dramatic drop in foot traffic since the increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests in LA County. Fear of deportation and indiscriminate targeting of Latino workers is impacting local businesses and the Little Tokyo community
Amidst the unrest following ICE raids in Los Angeles, undocumented Latino street vendors continue working, risking deportation to support their families. Facing decreased business and fear of targeting, these essential workers highlight the economic realities of immigration enforcement
Los Angeles street vendors, fearing ICE raids and decreased customer spending due to widespread anxiety, report significant business losses following recent immigration enforcement actions. Many undocumented workers rely on their taco truck and food stand income for survival, facing economic hardship amidst the civil unrest. Their livelihoods are directly impacted by the fear and uncertainty surrounding increased immigration enforcement in Little Tokyo and downtown Los Angeles
Despite downtown LA's unrest following recent ICE raids, Moreno's taco truck saw limited impact. Even amidst protests and decreased foot traffic on June 9th, a dental office employee reported a usual long line, with two customers purchasing tacos between 9-10 pm. This highlights the continued resilience of some Little Tokyo businesses
Amidst the Los Angeles immigration raids, a 33-year-old American citizen describes the fear gripping her undocumented parents, too terrified to leave their home, as she orders takeout—steak fries and tacos—for her family. This reflects the widespread anxiety among Latino communities following recent ICE enforcement actions in Southern California
Denise, whose mom emigrated from Vera Cruz, Mexico, like Moreno, came out to support his business. Members of Moreno’s indigenous Zapotec community were detained during ICE sweeps in the fashion district the previous Friday, Denise said.
“We were just getting back up from COVID,” Denise said of the street vendors. “It feels like we’re getting shut down all over again. It’s very hard.”
The slowdown is hurting Moreno’s bottom line. He said he pays around $2,000 a month to rent his truck and maintain a permit to park on the streets.
“I’m worried because my bill is too high,” Moreno said, adding that he has no choice but to continue his late-night operation from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. to support his wife and two kids. “I’m working hard to support my family to pay my bills and my rent.”
Claudia Antonio and Abel Pacheco are in a similar position. They started selling $12 crêpes last fall to set themselves apart from street vendors who serve traditional Mexican food. The couple said their business, La Chinantla, used to pull in about $200 a night; recently, it’s been as low as $60 a night in Koreatown.
“We get prepared, we have to throw it away because it won’t be good for the next day,” Antonio said of having to dispose of fresh fruit because of low sales.
The Oaxacan immigrants, who have three children, live in subsidized housing in downtown Los Angeles, paying a little over $1,000 a month for a three-bedroom apartment.
“We’re barely surviving,” Antonio said. Selling on the street, she said, varies so much day to day, it’s hard to make a consistent income. “Now the rent is coming up. That’s why we’re outside right now. Otherwise, we stay home.”
Antonio and Moreno both said they have work authorization to operate their food businesses, but since they aren’t citizens, they’ve been feeling more anxious than ever. ICE officials have been tracking down non-citizens who pay taxes at their places of business and home addresses using records from the Internal Revenue Service, according to reporting in the New York Times.
While ICE needs a judicial warrant to enter private areas of a workplace, the same protections don’t extend to street vendors who work on public sidewalks. Publications including the Los Angeles Times and LA Taco have published videos showing street vendors and their employees detained by federal officers.
“I’m worried,” said Moreno. “ICE, they take people, even if they’re citizens, they do not even ask for the papers. They just take people.” A viral video of a US citizen being detained, published by The New York Times, stoked outrage that ICE may be racially profiling Latinos.
Antonio and Pacheco are also applying for adjustment of status to become lawful permanent residents with green cards. “It’s very stressful,” Pacheco said of the expensive legal process. “Every time we have to go see the lawyer or they call you, they expect you to come out with some more money every single time.”
Antonio said her immigration lawyer charges her $1,200 every time they update documents in their application for a green card.
It hasn’t been cheap for Antonio and Pacheco to realize their American dream. Antonio has been building up her business for over 14 years, buying new appliances and slowly saving up for her fridges, which cost $250 each, and a customized illuminated business sign, which cost $400.
“We want our business to grow,” said Antonio, who hopes one day to open up a brick-and-mortar location with her husband. “That’s our dream, why we’re still working hard, and that’s why we’re still here, even though it’s not been easy.”
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