As President Trump’s administration expands immigrant arrests, business owners in Long Beach are noticing a slowdown in pedestrians.
Peruvian immigrant chef Carla Flores said her Long Beach coffee shop Ali Cuffy felt the effects after the ice arrest that began two weeks ago.
“Our sales have been cut by more than half over the past few weeks,” Flores said. “It just creates a ton of hysteria that even people here legally, even those here feel like they’re not comfortable putting their feet out of the door.”
Additionally, street vendors say they have noticed 70% of business cuts in recent weeks.
“We currently have five, but there are more workers than people,” said Michelle Antonio, a Long Beach Street vendor.
According to the Immigration Policy Institute, LA County has nearly one million undocumented people.
With comprehensive action, Luiz Castro explains that one in ten people are undocumented, so the Los Angeles community is supposed to feel the outcome.
“The community doesn’t want to go to work because the community isn’t leaving their homes, they’re afraid,” Castro said.
However, Flores emphasizes the importance of unity.
“Now is the time we need to stick together,” Flores said.
Source link
