TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Local businesses claim immigration enforcement on Tucson’s southside has been hurting them.
One local non-profit, the Coalicion De Derechos Humanos, is providing businesses with a “Know Your Rights” kit, in preparation for potential raids near them.
“They’re creating a lot of panic and people get scared because they don’t know their rights,” Maria Carrasco, a volunteer with the organization told 13 News. “If they want to come inside your business, they need to have a warrant with the name of the restaurant, the owner, the date and it has to be signed by a judge.”
Businesses on the south side, particularly Hispanic businesses, said they have been losing sales because customers haven’t been returning.
13 News spoke to one of the Mexican restaurants in the area who received the kit after the business witnessed the raids in its parking lot.
One of the restaurants’ cooks was detained while he was throwing trash away just feet away from the entrance.
13 News spoke to one of the workers who goes by Wendy.
“It did concern us, it concerns all of us because we just wanted to come here and work,” Wendy said. “Eventually if this continues, we’re going to have to stop working because I’m not going to feel safe. My coworkers are not going to feel safe.”
Wendy said one of the officers from ICE ordered food from her just minutes before the cook got arrested.
The restaurant’s sales have fallen, a trend for some Hispanic businesses in the area.
Local business owner, Angel Iniguez shared a similar sentiment.
“We had families, customers that used to come two, three times a week,” Iniguez said. “We don’t see them as much as now, we only see them once a week or once a month.”
As a southside resident, Iniguez said ICE raids have been affecting everyone.
“It bothers our community, it bothers our workers,” Iniguez added. “You can say, young kids that are not legal here, they’re scared too. And it didn’t used to be like that.”
13 News asked the Department of Homeland Security about whether these raids targeted Hispanic businesses — and received this statement in response:
“ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has routinely conducted worksite enforcement actions in Arizona. These ongoing and targeted arrests are in response to information or allegations received by ICE HSI.
Any allegation received is taken seriously and may result in an investigation. ICE HSI is tasked with enforcing the business community’s compliance with federal employment eligibility requirements and has the responsibility to conduct comprehensive worksite enforcement initiatives targeting employers who violate employment laws. During these operations, any alien determined to be in violation of U.S. immigration laws may be subject to arrest, detention, and, if ordered removed by an immigration judge or other authority, subject to removal from the United States.”
13 News spoke with several locals who said people are scared to go out. Local businesses say if this continues and they will continue to struggle, it is not sustainable in the long run.
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