Chicago Latino Corridor Hollowed Out Amid Deportation Fears

A normally bustling, predominantly Latino Chicago neighborhood became a “ghost town” by Monday afternoon as residents took steps to protect themselves against President Trump’s deportation plan and an extreme winter storm.

According to a Bloomberg article by Miranda Davis, Alicia A. Caldwell, and Daniela Sirtori, “Foot traffic at the 2-mile stretch of 26th Street in the Little Village neighborhood plunged — by some measures, the decline had hit the 50%-mark, according to Jennifer Aguilar, who heads the local chamber of commerce and spoke to a number of the 400 or so businesses in the area. On Tuesday morning, a number of shops were simply closed.”

Fears of raids could have serious implications for local businesses and the companies that employ immigrant workers, particularly in Chicago, which President Trump has promised to target. “When businesses have less foot traffic, they’re going to generate less revenue. That’s less taxation for our schools, for our health system, for our public safety, police departments, everything that keeps every Chicagoan safe,” said Rebecca Shi, chief executive officer at the American Business Immigration Coalition.

The authors note that the Little Village neighborhood “brings more tax revenue to City Hall than any other retail stretch other than the Magnificent Mile, the downtown shopping street that features luxury stores including Saks Fifth Avenue, Rolex and Burberry.”