Leticia Espinosa immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico within the ‘90s and finally settled in Chicago, the place she’s made a house.
The 58-year-old is now a U.S. citizen and has her personal enterprise. She is among the co-owners of Mexican arts and crafts store Colores Mexicanos in Streeterville. She considers herself lucky to be ready to assist her group and is all the time in search of methods to indicate her assist.
That’s why on Monday her retailer was considered one of many throughout the Chicago space that closed their doorways as a part of “A Day With out Immigrants,” a nationwide motion geared toward highlighting the financial contributions of immigrants and protesting President Donald Trump’s immigration insurance policies.
“I assumed a technique to assist was to shut my enterprise for a day,” Espinosa mentioned. “The lack of someday’s gross sales is just not necessary. It’s a part of the wrestle.”
The motion inspired members to skip work, college and chorus from searching for someday. The initiative unfold throughout social media in response to Trump’s immigration crackdown. In Chicago that started final week with highly publicized raids, sending ripples of concern all through the group.
An indication taped to the door at Colores Mexicanos on Monday mentioned the store was closed “in solidarity with immigrants.” The shop’s different homeowners are Leticia Espinosa’s sister, Erika, and their enterprise companion, Gabriel Neely-Streit.
Comparable indicators have been posted at companies in Pilsen, Little Village and different areas of the town. In suburbs like Berwyn, companies introduced on social media that they’d shut on Monday to assist the motion.
Salvador Plascencia, who owns eating places La Parra in Berwyn and Di’Vino in Forest Park, closed each institutions on Monday to assist the protest. He hoped it will spotlight the contributions of immigrants.
Crowds stroll previous a shuttered Colores Mexicanos arts and crafts store in Chicago on Monday. Companies throughout the nation have been closed for “a day with out immigrants,” which aimed to spotlight the contributions of immigrants to the U.S. economic system. Some college students stayed residence from faculties as properly.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Solar-Occasions
Plascencia requested authorities officers to think about tackling immigration a distinct method. He suggests making a pathway to citizenship for the numerous immigrants who’ve been working and paying taxes with out reaping the advantages.
“We wish and hope that this motion may give strategy to a concrete plan for hundreds of thousands of immigrants which can be already contributing to American society,” Plascencia mentioned. “To have the likelihood to work, examine and performance in society with out being discriminated in opposition to resulting from their authorized standing.”
Jaime di Paulo, president and chief govt of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, mentioned the rhetoric round immigration is creating concern, which is taking a toll on the economic system, particularly in native enterprise corridors.
“What we’re seeing is a direct response to that local weather,” he mentioned. “Folks have each proper to protest, keep residence and take no matter motion they really feel is important. The financial energy of the Hispanic group within the U.S. is immense. We’re not disrupting something — we’re making it clear that we’re a driving drive on this economic system.”
Alexis Sierra, a hair stylist at Studio H2o2 in Pilsen, mentioned her office was additionally closed in assist of the immigrant group. Sierra, who’s of Mexican descent, mentioned the vast majority of her prospects share her background or are immigrants themselves.
They discuss to her about their concern, Sierra mentioned, including that she needs the demonstration to carry extra consideration to the plus aspect of immigration.
In keeping with an evaluation launched final yr by the nonprofit American Immigration Council, in 2022 immigrant households paid $579.1 billion in whole taxes. That features $35.1 billion in taxes paid by undocumented households, serving to fund a variety of providers.
Sierra famous that immigration coverage impacts extra than simply the Hispanic group.
“I believe it’s necessary to acknowledge that that is very a lot all throughout the board,” Sierra mentioned. “Right now, I’m standing with Mexican immigrants, however there are different immigrants from totally different backgrounds which can be additionally going through it.”
Some Chicago faculties felt the consequences of Monday’s demonstration too.
Chicago Academics Union Vice President Jackson Potter mentioned academics reported a “steep” attendance decline Monday in faculties with massive immigrant populations. At among the faculties, dad and mom have been already holding their youngsters residence out of concern of the deportation threats.
Potter mentioned educators need college students coming to high school as a result of they provide safety, however “we welcome social protest.” A couple of CTU members — who declined to present their final names — mentioned the absences have been noticeable.
Coby, a South Aspect elementary college trainer, mentioned his college is predominantly Black however has many newly arrived immigrant college students who stayed residence Monday.
“We’ve to push again in opposition to the anti-immigrant rhetoric, which additionally doubles as anti-Black rhetoric,” Coby mentioned. “The very same issues that Trump and them are saying about immigrants are issues which were mentioned about Black individuals all through historical past on this nation. In order that’s one thing that’s essential, is to let our immigrant group know that they’re not alone on this battle.”
Contributing: Nader Issa, Rafaela Jinich
