Heavy immigration enforcement has turned once‑bustling commercial strips into near‑silent streets, severely battering immigrant‑run businesses and their workers.
Santee Alley—the bargain‑hunter’s hub of the downtown fashion district—should be shoulder‑to‑shoulder in July. Instead, metal shutters already rattle as vendors close early.
Community leaders blame a surge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations that have driven residents indoors and tourists elsewhere.
Santee Alley loses nearly half its foot traffic amid ICE enforcement
Business‑improvement chief Anthony Rodríguez calls the 45 percent drop in visitors “unprecedented.” That means 10,000 to 12,000 fewer shoppers each day. Who can keep a storefront open when the sidewalk is empty?
| Period | Daily visitors | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Before latest raids | 22,000 | — |
| After latest raids | 12,000 | – 45 % |
Merchants now whisper that the district feels “like a ghost town.”
Business owners report pandemic‑level revenue drops as shoppers stay home
Store owner Christopher Pérez says sales have fallen by half: “We survived COVID, but this feels worse.” Consequently, some vendors skip rent or cut staff hours, fearing the next inspection sweep. Shoppers—many in mixed‑status families—opt for online orders instead of crowded markets. Can you blame them? Immediate fallout cited by vendors:
- Unsold seasonal inventory piling up
- Part‑time shifts slashed
- Late payments to suppliers
Community leaders warn economic ripple effects if immigration raids continue unchecked
ICE detained 722 people in Los Angeles between June 1 and 10, seven times the 103 arrests during the same stretch last year. Each arrest removes a worker, customer or caregiver, Rodríguez warns, weakening entire neighborhoods. Gov. Gavin Newsom adds that aggressive raids could also deter mixed‑status households from programs like Medi‑Cal. Federal agents, for their part, say they are targeting employers who evade labor laws.
City officials are studying emergency grants, and nonprofits will host “know your rights” clinics in the coming weeks. For now, the fashion district’s recovery depends on whether enforcement eases before more “for lease” signs appear.
Los Angeles’ ghost‑town blocks show how immigration policy can upend local economies. Staying informed, supporting affected shops and attending community briefings are practical steps Angelenos can take while policymakers work toward a sustainable solution.
