LA Latinos hunker down before planned ICE raids
President Trump’s immigration crackdown and reports of an impending federal sting operation have sent waves of fear through Los Angeles’ Latino community — and even legal residents are on the lookout for the feds.
Following leaked documents revealing plans for a citywide Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid at the end of the month, nervous Central and South Americans have been afraid to shop, use public transportation or drop their kids off at school, local sources told The Post.
Legal residents with prior criminal convictions are also worried about being nabbed and deported, and even those with clean records have been watching their steps, said Lorena Sanchez, the daughter of Mexican immigrants who works for a nonprofit housing organization.
“The overall feeling is that, whether legal or not, everybody is scared,” she said. “Our clients are asking, ‘What if they stop me? I’m on probation.’ You might be detained, or your children, or your neighbors.”
Some are hesitant to ride public transportation or even go to church due to a Trump administration policy allowing immigration agents to raid houses of worship.
Parents are scared to take their kids to school, worried that ICE agents will be waiting in ambush.
“People fear that there is going to be separation of families, and not even the schools are safe spaces,” said Cgicuei Dominguez, a student in a predominantly Latino high school.
“I’m safe, but I have family and close friends who aren’t. Nobody wants to lose and aunt or an uncle,” he added.
As customers stay home, Latino businesses in the City of Angels are feeling the pinch.
“Because of the fear, our store is empty,” said Sandra Tello, a Guatemalan immigrant who co-owns a mariachi costume shop in the historic Latino neighborhood of Boyle Heights.
Speaking in Spanish, Tello said rumors of impending ICE raids are swirling around her neighborhood, and people are keeping their shopping to a minimum.
“Many people aren’t coming in to buy things. Even people with papers. People with papers might have a criminal record and they’re worried they could get into trouble,” Tello said.
But her brother and business partner Jorge Tello is optimistic. He said people are cautious because nobody knows what life under Trump will be like, but he believes business will pick back up in a year or so.
“Donald Trump can close the border, but he can’t close mariachi,” he said.
Jane B., a Mexican-American who works in her family’s sundry shop, said that roughly half of her neighbors and family friends have changed up their routines to avoid run-ins with ICE.
But she said even those who find themselves looking over their shoulders are prepared for the worst.
“They think they might be deported, but I don’t think they’re afraid. These are people who have started from the bottom before. They know how to start again,” she said.
