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Foot traffic has decreased significantly in Little Village, Chicago’s predominantly Latino community, also known as “Midwest Mexico“, according to a report from Fox 32 Chicago, as deportation fears have increased since the president donald trump took office on Monday.
“They’ve seen a lot less foot traffic, a lot less customers than they normally see,” Jennifer Aguilar, executive director of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce, told Fox 32 about the district. “The weekends are huge here in La Villita, and the “The number of people who were out this weekend was significantly less than usual.”
Considered Chicago’s second-busiest commercial corridor, Little Village stretches two miles long and is filled with nearly 500 businesses, including shops, restaurants and nightlife venues in the southwest part of the city.
Establishments in Chicago’s Little Village Latino district have begun to see less business after Trump pledged to crack down on illegal immigration. (Fox 32 Chicago)
According to Michael Rodriguez, councilman for District 22, which includes Little Village, the once bustling community isn’t empty just because of the cold weather. Rodríguez told the local station that people are afraid of the US. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Application (ICE) conducting major raids in the Mexican-American neighborhood.
“There’s definitely a lot of fear out there, and we think it has to do with less activity in their neighborhood,” Rodriguez said. “The fear is palpable. Our residents express fear. People on the streets say they are afraid that ICE agents will show up at their doors, at their places of work, at their places of worship or where they go to school. They are afraid of that.
CHICAGO MAYOR REITERATES OPPOSITION TO ADMINISTRATOR TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION REFORM
While ICE raids are possible under Trump’s new crackdown on illegal immigration, there have been no signs of deportation yet, according to Leo Pargo, a community activist who has been patrolling neighborhoods for signs of ICE activity.
“We’ve been patrolling,” Pargo told Fox 32. “We’ve been driving around Little Village and around Pilsen, looking for ICE agents or possible raids that might be happening. So far, nothing.”
A sign reading “Do not open for ICE” is displayed in a window of a corner store in Chicago’s Little Village on the day Trump took office on Monday. (Erin Hooley)
According to the report, as workers and shoppers stay home, Aguilar said the looming fears will financially impact the district that reportedly rakes in $900 million in annual revenue.
“It makes it really difficult to stay afloat,” Aguilar said. “Especially now that it’s just the beginning. It puts them in a state of worry, like what are things going to be like for the next four years?”
“It really hurts anyone who lives here. in chicago that receives services from the city,” Aguilar continued.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PLANS ARRESTS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ACROSS US ON ‘DAY ONE’
A street vendor doesn’t see customers when shoppers stop shopping in Chicago’s Little Village. (Fox 32 Chicago)
As a sanctuary city for migrants, Chicago faces Trump head-on after president pledges to address illegal immigration during his inaugural address Monday: “All illegal entry will immediately stop and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens to the places from which they came.”
On Tuesday, Trump-appointed border czar Tom Homan also said ICE agents have already been deployed across the country to conduct operations.
Chicago’s Little Village is a predominantly Latino community filled with Mexican-American establishments. (Eric Cox/Dan Fastenberg/Alexandra Sarabia/Core News)
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Despite the crackdown, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson vowed to oppose the president’s plans and assured that the city’s local authorities will not participate with federal immigration authorities under the Illinois Trust Act of 2017.
“Chicago remains steadfast: regardless of the circumstances, our commitment to protecting and supporting this city remains unwavering,” Johnson wrote in a social media post on Sunday. “We will continue to fight for justice and the safety of all who call this place home.”
