Gonzalo Monti tells L.A. TACO that business wasn’t even as bad as it is now back during the pandemic.
Since the federal immigration siege began in Los Angeles in June of 2025, the owner of X-elence Furniture on Hawthorne Boulevard in Inglewood says he’s lost over 60% of walk-in customers, which is reflected in its sales. The furniture shop has lost an estimated $40,000 per month on average since an immigration enforcement raid took place just two blocks away.
A new UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI) and Inclusive Action for the City report found that immigration enforcement surges that occurred in June of 2025 resulted in substantial and sustained economic and physical health ramifications for businesses and Latino entrepreneurs across Los Angeles County.
Researchers found that during two-week periods following enforcement operations, businesses in nine areas within a half mile of immigration operations had 46,000 fewer customer visits and around $3.16 million in accumulated revenue loss, when compared to the two weeks prior to the enforcement actions. 76% of Latino entrepreneurs who researchers interviewed said they experienced substantial emotional impacts from immigration enforcement operations, as well.