Local Latino-owned businesses are taking a hit financially as a result of the ICE raids, according to a new report.
According to the Los Angeles Business Journal, the Los Angeles Economic Equity Accelerator and Fellowship interviewed 200 business leaders across the county, focusing on areas where ICE agents have been the most active. It found that 43 percent of Latino business owners have seen their revenues fall 50 percent or more since June.
Ron Gochez, an immigrants' rights advocate and a member of Union Del Barrio, told KNX News’ Jon Baird that people are getting hurt financially.
“Let's say if it's a person who's a street vendor who sells hot dogs, you know, if they're not selling as much anymore, that means they're probably not going to either Smart and Final or Costco or wherever they get their ingredients from,” he said. “It’s going to affect the entire economy, so we know that this is something that's hurting Los Angeles, whether people are documented or not.”
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The report also found that two-thirds of those who responded said their employees were impacted by the raids, and one-third of them reported they had to temporarily close their businesses as a result. Additionally, 78 percent compared the ICE raids to creating a climate of fear.
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