LA streets, businesses empty due to ICE raids: Padilla

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) said the streets of Los Angeles are empty as a result of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement actions in recent months.

In a video posted to social media, Padilla said customers are afraid of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, and businesses have suffered in what, he said, is typically a vibrant area.

“Hi, this is Senator Alex Padilla here in Boyle Heights, just outside of downtown Los Angeles, in one of L.A.’s most iconic, historic and vibrant neighborhoods, typically,” Padilla said in the video, posted this past weekend.

“But, ever since Trump’s ICE raids — it really began in earnest in early June — you see not just a drop in foot traffic, pedestrian activity, here in the community,” he continued, “but all the business owners here have seen a significant drop in business.”

“A lot of their customers too afraid to come out and shop, too afraid to come out and eat, like at La Chispa de Oro here in Boyle Heights,” he added.

He included panoramic footage of the area and video of himself visiting the businesses and restaurants.

The senator encouraged those frustrated with the president’s immigration policies to support the local businesses as a form of “protest.”

“For folks who are wondering what they can do to push back, what they can do to counter this Trump crackdown, you can protest with your wallet. Come support a small business, immigrant-owned business, in these diverse communities as part of our pushback,” Padilla said.

President Trump has expanded targeted immigration enforcement efforts, especially in Democratic-run cities, like L.A., Chicago and New York. Widespread demonstrations against the federal immigration crackdown erupted in L.A. earlier this summer, prompting the president to call in the National Guard.