New Delhi: In a massive show of resistance against President Donald Trump’s stringent immigration policies, businesses across the United States closed their doors for a day in protest. The protest ‘A Day Without Immigrants’, aimed to highlight the contributions of immigrants to the American economy and society. From Los Angeles to Washington, DC, thousands gathered in solidarity, waving flags from Mexico and El Salvador, and holding banners.
Restaurants, grocery stores, and salons in major cities such as Chicago, San Francisco, and Columbus locked their doors. School absences surged in several districts, as families kept children at home, fearful of the heightened Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity under the Trump administration.
Roots of the protest
This was not the first ‘Day Without Immigrants’ in American history. A similar protest took place on February 16, 2017, less than a month after Trump first took office, and the origins of such movements date back to a 2006 strike opposing immigration reforms under President George W Bush. However, Monday’s demonstration was unique in its timing and urgency, responding directly to the Trump administration’s aggressive new policies, including ending birthright citizenship and deportations.
Since January 20 ICE has intensified daily raids, arresting over 7,000 undocumented immigrants. According to reports in the local dailies, many of those detained have no criminal records, debunking the claims of ICE which says that it is targeting only those with violent criminal histories. This has fueled widespread fear among immigrant communities.
Regional responses: Coast to coast impact
The protest was felt in every corner of the country, with varying degrees of participation reflecting both solidarity and the economic realities faced by immigrant workers.
– California: Los Angeles became a focal point for the demonstrations, with thousands rallying for a second consecutive day. Protesters closed down sections of a major freeway for hours on Sunday, and on Monday, businesses across San Francisco, Oakland, and other Bay Area cities shut their doors.
– Florida: In Pensacola, about a dozen businesses, including Mexican restaurants and Latin markets like El Gallo Latin Market, closed for the day.
– Ohio: Columbus saw closures across a range of businesses, from High Bank Distillery and La Michoacana markets to La Dulce Vida ice cream shops and El Barco Mexican Restaurants. High Bank Distillery publicly expressed solidarity with its staff on social media.
– Oklahoma: In Oklahoma City, at least 10 businesses, including multiple restaurants owned by the Good Egg Dining group, remained shut in solidarity with the protest. “”Our industry, our restaurants, and our communities are built on the hard work, passion, and dedication of immigrants. They are the backbone of our kitchens, our service, and our culture. Today, we stand with them,” reads a social media post shared by the group’s restaurants.
– Washington, DC area: The DMV region (Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia) saw closures, particularly among Latin American eateries like La Casita Pupuseria in Maryland, which issued a statement affirming the Latino community’s integral role in American society.
– Minnesota: In St. Paul, El Burrito Mercado, a beloved local institution, initially planned to close for the entire day, as it did in 2017. However, concerns about depriving the community of access to groceries led the owners to remain open for a few hours with a skeleton crew. Similarly, Tierra Encantada, a Spanish-immersion day care provider with 14 locations, saw about 70% of its enrolled children stay home in solidarity with the immigrant workforce.
Challenges and economic realities
Despite the strong show of support, many workers and business owners faced difficult decisions regarding participation. For some, the economic stakes were simply too high.
“If I don’t go to work today, that’s one day less that I have to be able to pay for my next rent,” Aljazeera quoted Noel Xavier, organising director for the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, as saying. This sentiment echoed across many industries, highlighting the financial precarity faced by many immigrant workers.
Jaime di Paulo, president of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, pointed out that while small restaurants and retailers in Chicago’s Latino neighbourhoods participated in the protest, larger employers and construction companies continued operations.
Beyond the economic impact, through ‘A Day Without Immigrants’ the participants wanted to make people and authorities aware of the role immigrants play in American society. While the Trump administration insists that its immigration policies target criminals, critics argue that the broad sweeps and fear tactics suggest otherwise.
