Fear of ICE has driven customers of Latino grocer in Southeast Portland out of sight

Written by Blair Best & KGW:

PORTLAND, Ore. — In Southeast Portland, the Trump administration's stepped-up immigration enforcement isn't only a threat to undocumented families seeking to stay together, it's had a chilling effect on the community such that shop owners say they're struggling to pay the bills as their regular customers disappear.

Jose Esparza is the owner of El Campesino PDX, a Latin American grocery store on Southeast Powell Boulevard. He says the atmosphere of fear is hurting his bottom line.

"The customers, they don't want to go out and start shopping especially, in Hispanic markets," he said. "They don't want to get caught by ICE."

Esparza said he's used to stocking items from South America — Argentina, Colombia and Peru, to name a few. But many of his shelves are bare these days.

"For example, in December, we lost like 20% of the income, of the sales," he said, adding that it amounts to between $10,000 and $15,000. "We're struggling right now just to keep the business open."

According to Esparza, that struggle began about four months ago when he noticed that some of his regular customers were no longer turning up. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been spotted operating within the neighborhood, he said.

"They were, like, about three blocks (away) two months ago," he said. "This isn't affecting just me. It's other communities."

At the Latino Network, a woman who preferred to remain anonymous works directly with immigrant families impacted by ICE. She's a family support coordinator for the group.

"We are a link," she said. "I see it every day ... they are scared to go out because if they are taken, their kids are going to be alone."

This month, the woman said, she's working with about 50 families who have had someone detained by federal immigration officers. She visits those who are too afraid to leave their homes.

"I deliver food, or I take gift cards for food so they can order online," she said.

Even though protests outside the ICE facility in Portland's South Waterfront have simmered down considerably since the days immediately after President Donald Trump attempted to deploy National Guard troops, immigration enforcement in Portland and throughout the metro area has not let up.

"It's still happening," the family support coordinator said.

And as long as families try to remain indoors and out of sight — those not already detained or deported — retailers like Esparza who serve the Latino community will suffer. He worries his store may only survive another six months at this rate.

"I hope that things get better in the city," he said, a sentiment echoed by the woman from the Latino Network.

And it's not just grocery stores. This past Saturday, acclaimed Mexican fine dining restaurant República was going to have its last service. The owners posted on social media that the closure is due to a drop in tourism and concerns around immigration enforcement activity.

"There are many reasons we’re closing, but the current state of the nation — especially as it relates to our people — was not something I was willing to gamble with," owner Angel Medina said, in part.

After getting a tremendous response from Portlanders, Republica extended its final serve out to March 7th.