This article was originally published by Boyle Heights Beat, a nonprofit newsroom serving Boyle Heights and the eastside.
Across Boyle Heights and East L.A., where immigrant communities form the backbone of the local economy, fear sparked by recent ICE raids has reshaped daily business.
Street vendors have eliminated seating areas. Storefronts display signs warning off immigration authorities: “Private property” or “ICE is not welcome here.” Some shops now unlock their doors only to known customers, at times with children acting as gatekeepers.
These urgent precautions, business owners say, are necessary to protect staff and customers.
At Jason’s Tacos in East L.A., owner Jason Devora was forced to overhaul his business after federal agents raided his taco truck on June 12. One employee and several customers were taken, he said, leaving grills unattended and his truck deserted.