Chicago’s Mexican-American community Little Village is now a ghost town

Foot traffic has dropped significantly in Chicago’s predominantly Latino community, Little Village, also known as the “Mexico of the Midwest,” according to a Fox 32 Chicago report, as fears of deportation have increased since President Donald Trump took office Monday.

“They’ve seen a lot less foot traffic, a lot less customers than they normally see,” Jennifer Aguilar, executive director of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce, said of the district to Fox 32. “Weekends are huge here in Little Village and the amount of people , who were out over the weekend, were significantly lower than normal.”

Considered Chicago’s second-busiest retail corridor, Little Village stretches two miles long and is lined with nearly 500 businesses, including shops, restaurants and nightlife venues in the southwest part of the city.

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Establishments in Chicago’s Latino neighborhood of Little Village have begun to see less business after Trump vowed to crack down on illegal immigration. (Fox 32 Chicago)

According to Michael Rodriguez, a councilman for the 22nd Ward, which includes Little Village, the once-bustling community isn’t empty just because of the cold weather. Rodriquez told the local station that people are afraid of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducting large-scale raids in the Mexican-American neighborhood.

“There’s definitely a lot of fear out there, and we think it has to do with some of this less activity in their neighborhood,” Rodriguez said. “The fear is palpable. The fear is being expressed by our residents. People on the streets are saying they are afraid of ICE agents showing up at their doorsteps, at their workplaces, at their places of worship or places where they goes to school. They are afraid of it.

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While ICE raids are possible under Trump’s new crackdown on illegal immigration, there have been no signs of deportation yet, according to Leo Pargo, a community activist who has been patrolling neighborhoods for signs of ICE activity.

“We’ve been patrolling,” Pargo told Fox 32. “We’ve been driving around Little Village and through Pilsen looking for any ICE agents or potential raids that would happen. So far, nothing.”

A sign reading “Don’t open for ICE” is displayed in the window of a corner store in Little Village, Chicago, on the day Trump took office on Monday. (Erin Hooley)

According to the report, as workers and shoppers stay home, Aguilar said the looming fear will affect the district financially, which reportedly rakes in $900 million in annual revenue.

“It makes it really hard to stay afloat,” Aguilar said. “Especially right now, when it’s just the beginning. It puts them in a state of worry, like, what’s the next four years going to look like?”

“It really hurts anyone who lives here in Chicago who receives services from the city,” Aguilar continued.

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A street vendor sees no customers as consumers stop shopping in Chicago’s Little Village. (Fox 32 Chicago)

As a haven for migrants, Chicago is facing Trump head-on after the president vowed to crack down on illegal immigration during his inaugural address Monday: “All illegal entry will be immediately halted and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came.”

On Tuesday, Trump’s designated border czar Tom Homan also said ICE agents have already been deployed across the country to conduct operations.

Chicago’s Little Village is a predominantly Latino community full of Mexican-American establishments. (Eric Cox/Dan Fastenberg/Alexandra Sarabia/Core News)

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Despite the crackdown, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson vowed to oppose the president’s plans and assured that the city’s local law enforcement will not participate in federal immigration enforcement under the Illinois Trust Act of 2017.

“Chicago stands strong: Regardless of the circumstances, our commitment to protect and support this city is unwavering,” Johnson wrote in a social media post Sunday. “We will continue to fight for justice and safety for all who call this place home.”