Many Long Beach business owners are feeling the impact of increased immigration arrests. With fears rising, foot traffic has slowed down significantly.
Chef Karla Flores, who runs a coffee shop called Alli Kaphiy, has seen a sharp decline in sales. “In the past couple of weeks, our sales have dropped by over half,” she shared. “There’s so much fear that even legal residents hesitate to go out.”
Street vendors are also struggling. Michelle Antonio, a vendor in Long Beach, mentioned her business took a hit too. “We used to have more customers, but now we often see more workers than people buying,” she said.
There are about one million undocumented people living in Los Angeles County, according to the Migration Policy Institute. Luiz Castro from Inclusive Action pointed out that with one in ten people being undocumented, the whole community feels the strain. “People are afraid to leave their homes or go to work,” Castro said.
Despite the challenges, Flores emphasized the importance of community support. “Now is the time for us to come together,” she stated. It’s crucial for everyone to support one another during these tough times.
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Immigration, Long Beach
