"All of them requested anonymity out of fear of retaliation from the federal government. The restaurant owner said traffic to his business dropped immediately after ICE officials targeted another restaurant, Buona Forchetta, in a highly visible operation that drew community protest and a violent response from ICE. Since then, the owner said, his sales have dropped by 30% to 40% because immigrant customers aren't leaving their homes except for essential tasks like work."
"A San Diego restaurant owner who serves many immigrant customers has seen business plummet. A cleaning woman avoids bringing tools to work to avoid drawing attention to herself. Her husband, a construction worker, has been unemployed for over a month. A California farm had to hire an attorney to protect workers with approved visas from deportation. California-and other states across the country-rely heavily on the labor of immigrants."
Immigration enforcement fears are deterring immigrant workers and customers across California, causing business declines and labor disruptions. Restaurant sales dropped 30–40 percent as immigrant customers avoid leaving home except for essential tasks. Some workers self-deported or remain unemployed, and employers face staffing gaps. Farms and other employers incur legal costs to protect visa-holders from deportation. Researchers found fewer Californians, both citizens and noncitizens, went to work during intense ICE raids in Los Angeles, and the decline persisted. The climate of fear is restricting worker rights, reducing labor supply, and imposing economic costs on businesses and the broader state economy.
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