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The immigration raids conducted in recent weeks by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have led to a significant economic contraction in cities like Minneapolis, where local merchants say that “people are afraid to leave their homes or go to work.”
It has been two months since neither customers nor colleagues have come to the business. We have seen many local establishments affected; ICE came to ours and we lost a colleague,” reported Telemundo Valeria Aguirre, manager of a taco shop located in the south of the city.
The tense atmosphere has led to a drop in sales, especially in areas with high migrant populations. "Our customers are very scared, they aren't consuming, and many employees have stopped coming for fear of being detained," Aguirre added.
He highlighted the impact on mental health within the Latino population and the support from Americans who back businesses and immigrants.
According to calculations by the Minneapolis City Council, the immigration raids and operations carried out over the past two months have resulted in nearly 200 million dollars in losses for local businesses, primarily impacting restaurants, supermarkets, laundries, and workshops run by Latino immigrants.
The governor of Minnesota announced that he will request federal financial assistance for small businesses that have experienced decreased revenues or lost some of their staff due to the arrests.
"The economic impact of these operations goes beyond the migrant sector; it is affecting the entire regional economy," their office stated in a statement.
Neighbors and workers report constant patrols, checks at bus stops, and the presence of federal agents in parking lots and shopping centers. “There is fear all around —said a construction worker—. One doesn’t know whether to go to work or hide.”
Similar situations have occurred in cities in Florida, Illinois, Texas, among other states, where several businesses have reported significant losses.
Civil rights organizations have reported that the federal immigration crackdown, driven by the new “zero tolerance” policy of the Trump Administration, is creating “an unnecessary climate of terror” among working families and undocumented students.
In response, the coalition of churches and community associations in Minnesota set up a network of temporary shelters and legal assistance for immigrants affected by the detentions. “This is not just about the economy: we are talking about lives shattered by fear,” emphasized one of their spokespersons.
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