Four family members employed at the same DC restaurant were detained by immigration agents as they left their apartment building. The restaurant has experienced three to seven employees calling out each day over recent weeks amid fear about federalization of local police and increased immigration enforcement. Two employees resigned and others stopped showing up to work. Since August 7, federal officials have arrested more than 300 people in DC without legal immigration status. The president described DC as a 'boom town' while touting crime-fighting efforts, but many restaurant operators report no local business rebound. One worker approved for a work permit still carries an approval letter and now takes Ubers for safety.
"They say they were scared, and they're not going to show up to work," says the chef, who like others in this story, requested anonymity for fear of retribution from law enforcement and government officials.
"Half the restaurants closed, because nobody could go, because they were afraid to go outside. Now those restaurants are opening and new restaurants are opening up," he said from the Oval Office.
"I'm very concerned. I'm stressed. I'm panicked sometimes," he says.
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