Concerns about deportation have increased since President Donald Trump took office on Monday, Fox 32 Chicago reports.・The number of customers in the village has decreased significantly.
Jennifer Aguilar, executive director of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce, told FOX 32 that the area is seeing “much less foot traffic and foot traffic than normal.” “There is,” he said. The number of people who went out this weekend was significantly lower than usual. ”
Considered Chicago's second-busiest retail district, Little Village spans two miles and is home to nearly 500 stores, restaurants, and nightlife venues on the city's southwest side.
President Trump confronts sanctuary cities over deportation as crackdown on illegal immigrants begins
Business in Chicago's Latino neighborhood of Little Village has begun to decline after President Trump promised to crack down on illegal immigration. (Fox 32 Chicago)
City Councilman Michael Rodriguez, whose 22nd Ward includes Little Village, said the cold weather isn't the only reason the once-bustling area is deserted. Rodriguez told a local broadcaster that people are scared that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is carrying out large-scale raids in Mexican-American neighborhoods.
“There's definitely a lot of fear out there, and I think that has something to do with less activity in the neighborhood,” Rodriguez said. “The fear is palpable, and that fear is being vocally expressed by residents. People on the streets say they are scared of ICE agents showing up on their doorsteps, at their workplaces, at their places of worship, at their places of school. That’s what I’m afraid of.”
Chicago mayor expresses opposition to incoming Trump administration's immigration reform
Although ICE raids are a possibility under President Trump's new crackdown on illegal immigration, there are still a lot of people out of the country, said Leo Pargo, a community activist who patrols neighborhoods for signs of ICE activity. There are no signs of deportation.
“We're out on patrol. We're going around Little Village, going through Pilsen, looking for ICE agents and possible attacks. Nothing so far,” Pargo told Fox 32.
On the day President Trump was inaugurated on Monday, a sign posted in the window of a corner store in Chicago's Little Village read, “Do Not Open to ICE.” (Erin Hooley)
With workers and shoppers staying home, Aguilar said the looming unrest will have an economic impact on the district, which generates $900 million a year in revenue, according to the report.
“That makes it very difficult to stay afloat,” Aguilar said. “Especially now that we're just getting started. They're going to be in a state of uncertainty. What's going to happen for the next four years?”
“For anyone who lives here in Chicago and receives services from the city, it's really heartbreaking,” Aguilar continued.
Trump administration plans to arrest illegal immigrants across the country on 'day one'
As consumers stopped shopping in Chicago's Little Village, street vendors lost customers. (Fox 32 Chicago)
As a sacred place for immigrants, The city of Chicago is going head-to-head with President Trump after the president promised to tackle illegal immigration in his inaugural address on Monday. They came. ”
On Tuesday, Tom Homan, Trump's nominee for border czar, also said ICE agents were already deployed across the country to carry out the operation.
Chicago's Little Village is a Latino community with many Mexican-American establishments. (Eric Cox/Dan Furstenberg/Alexandra Sarabia/Core News)
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Despite the crackdown, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has vowed to oppose the president's plan and made it clear that the city's local law enforcement agencies will not participate in federal immigration enforcement under the Illinois Trust Act of 2017.
“Chicago is in a strong position. Our resolve to protect and support our city is unwavering, no matter the circumstances,” Johnson wrote in a social media post Sunday. “We will continue to fight for justice and safety for all who call this place home.”
