Trump’s Immigration Policies Impacting Chicago’s Immigrant Communities
President Trump’s immigration enforcement strategies are noticeably affecting large immigrant neighborhoods in Chicago.
There’s a growing indication that the city’s immigrant-friendly economy is struggling, partially due to these policies. Before Trump even started his second term, Chicago’s progressive Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson was already overseeing one of the city’s most anti-business administrations, which had been causing significant issues for local job creators. Rising taxes and plans for even more increases had already forced many businesses to close down, long before the immigration enforcement ramped up.
In August, Chicago experienced a decline in its business sector by 17 percent last year, marking the lowest number of operating companies in the past decade.
The aftermath of COVID-19 has been particularly harsh, especially for restaurants. But the additional pressure from Trump’s immigration enforcement is compounding the struggles for businesses that cater to immigrant communities, particularly those in areas affected by Trump’s “Operation Midway Blitz.”
Neighborhoods like Little Village and Pilsen are seeing restaurants nearing bankruptcy as customers stay away, anxious about federal law enforcement. “We are no longer profitable and are losing money,” explained Marcos Carvajal, owner of Carnitas Uruapan. “I’m using my other two stores to keep people employed here. If it weren’t for those stores, we’d have no choice but to close.”
Carvajal starkly stated, “We are dying a slow death.” He mentioned that when protests arise against ICE agents, the repercussions keep people indoors for days afterward, exacerbating the situation.
Essam Hani, who operates restaurants in both Chicago and Milwaukee, noted that unlike during the pandemic, landlords aren’t shutting down operations these days. “We have to dip into our personal savings to keep the doors open, but for how long can we do that?” Hani questioned. “We’re still paying our rent, employees, gas, and electricity. All those costs remain.”
According to Hani, sales have plummeted by approximately 40 percent while Mayor Johnson indicates that expenses are soaring. He expressed concern that if the trend continues, many small businesses might shut down due to their inability to cover employee wages or pay rent. “That’s exactly what’s happening in our industry,” he noted.
This situation highlights how reliant some Chicago neighborhoods are on immigrants, both documented and undocumented, for their economic vitality, and how their decline is taking a toll on the local economy.
