Fox 32 Chicago reports that people in Chicago’s predominantly Latino neighborhood of Little Village, also known as the “Mexico of the Midwest,” have grown in fear of deportation since President Donald Trump took office on Monday. Traffic dropped significantly.
“They’re seeing a lot less foot traffic and less customers than normal,” Little Village Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jennifer Aguilar told Fox 32 of the area. The number of people out and about this weekend was significantly lower than usual.
Considered Chicago’s second-busiest retail corridor, Little Village is 2 miles long and lined with nearly 500 businesses, including shops, restaurants and nightlife in the city’s southwest.
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Business in the hamlet of Chicago’s Latino neighborhood has dwindled following Trump’s pledge to crack down on illegal immigration. (Fox 32 Chicago)
According to Michael Rodriguez, the city councilman for Ward 22, which includes Little Village, the once-bustling community isn’t just emptying out because of the cold weather. Rodriquez told local television that there are concerns about large-scale raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Mexican-American communities.
“There’s definitely a lot of fear out there, and we think it’s related to some of the less activity in their neighborhood,” Rodriguez said. “The fear is palpable. Our residents are expressing that fear. People on the streets are saying they’re afraid They fear having ICE agents show up at their doorstep, at their workplace, at their place of worship, or at their school.”
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Leo Pargo, a community activist who has been patrolling neighborhoods looking for signs of ICE activity, said that while ICE may conduct raids as part of Trump’s new crackdown on illegal immigration, there are currently no signs of deportations.
“We’ve been patrolling. We’ve been driving around little villages and through Pilsen looking for any ICE agents or any possible raids. So far, nothing,” Pargo told Fox 32.
On Monday, the day Trump was inaugurated, a sign reading “ICE OFF” hung in the window of a corner store in Chicago’s Little Village. (Erin Hooley)
Aguilar reportedly said there were looming concerns about the economic impact on a region with a reported $900 million in annual revenue as workers and shoppers stay home.
“It makes it very difficult to make ends meet,” Aguilar said. “Especially now, this is just the beginning. It puts them in a state of worry about, like, what is the next four years going to look like?”
“This really hurts anyone who lives in Chicago and receives services from the city,” Aguilar continued.
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When consumers stop shopping in Chicago’s hamlets, street vendors lose sight of their customers. (Fox 32 Chicago)
As a refuge city for immigrants, Chicago is facing a head-on challenge from Trump, who pledged to address illegal immigration in his inaugural address on Monday: “All illegal entry will stop immediately, and we will begin deporting millions of criminal aliens back to their places of origin.” They Coming. ”
Trump’s designated border czar Tom Homan also said on Tuesday that ICE agents have been deployed to conduct operations across the country.
Chicago’s Little Village is a predominantly Latino neighborhood filled with Mexican-American establishments. (Eric Cox/Dan Fastberg/Alexandra Sarabia/Core News)
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Despite the crackdown, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has vowed to oppose the president’s plan and pledged that the city’s local law enforcement will not participate in federal immigration enforcement under the 2017 Illinois Trust Act.
“Chicago stands firm: No matter the circumstances, our commitment to protecting and supporting our city remains unwavering,” Johnson wrote in a social media post on Sunday. “We will continue to fight for justice and safety for all who call this place home.”
