Korean-American merchants in Los Angeles fear ‘devastation' as ICE raids, protests deepen
A wave of immigration raids in Los Angeles' Fashion District, commonly known as 'The Santee Alley' or 'Java Market', has sparked anxiety and economic disruption among Korean-American merchants, with many shuttering their stores in fear of further crackdowns.
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Last Friday, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted coordinated raids across the district, detaining more than 40 undocumented immigrants, including over 20 workers at a Korean-owned wholesale clothing business.
The raids also extended to nearby locations such as a Home Depot, prompting protests throughout the city and raising concerns within the immigrant business community.
'There's barely a soul on the streets. Some stores haven't reopened since the weekend,' said Yoon, a 62-year-old Korean-American merchant who has run a women's fashion store in the area for 30 years. 'We're scared they'll raid us again.'
ICE appears to have focused its enforcement efforts on the Fashion District, where many garment businesses depend on Hispanic labour, some of whom are believed to be undocumented.
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Merchants said it has long been an open secret that undocumented workers are employed across the district due to labour shortages and the area's demographic reality – roughly half of Los Angeles' population is of Latin American descent.
'You can't run a business here without Hispanic workers,' said one merchant. 'It's not like before. Sales are down, but we still need people to run operations. Sometimes you hire people even if you're unsure about their status.'
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