DC Latin-American Restaurant Doors Sealed amid ICE Patrol Rumors

In the Northwest corner of Washington DC, tucked away lies a Latin-American restaurant co-owned by Hernán and his brother. Last week a wave of terror coursed through the staff as rumors of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) patrolling the area started circulating. Stirred by fear of racial bias and potential targeting, the staff expressed their desire to return home. Within a few hours, the escalating anxiety forced Hernán to temporarily shut the restaurant doors, keeping them sealed since then.

Ever since President Trump deployed the national guard in DC, the dynamic of the city altered sharply, according to Hernán (whose surname is being withheld due to potential fears of ICE retribution). With uncertainty and fear seeping into the city’s rhythm, even the bike delivery guys, crucial veins of the city’s lifeblood, are not showing on the streets. His restaurant crew, most of whom speak Spanish, are hesitant to brave the DC streets in the present climate.

Hernán, also the owner of another restaurant in Maryland, is hopeful of reigniting the sizzle in his kitchen in the forthcoming weeks. However, his hope hinges on the reassumption of control by the DC police from the Trump administration and subsequently a decline in immigration enforcement activities. The future is foggy not just for Hernán but for a legion of restaurant owners in the heart of the US.

The crackdown by the Trump administration has already been a thorn in the foot for restaurants who saw a significant drop in their patrons resulting from an atmosphere of enduring fear and uncertainty. Coupled with a drastic reduction in staff, as immigrants, irrespective of their legal status, are wary of setting foot in DC, the restaurant scene finds itself in an unprecedented struggle. Some of these immigrants have been taken into custody by ICE, further fueling the air of apprehension.

Despite this grim scenario, President Trump alleged the crackdown to be advantageous to the restaurants. He claimed that the eateries which once stood closed due to safety concerns are now reopening or being replaced by new ones. This statement starkly contrasts with the reality on the ground.

Intrinsic evidence of the crippling narrative is the growing number of restaurants, like Hernán’s, that have been compelled to close. The remaining ones are struggling to tread water with reduced human resources, delivery staff, and customers. The chain of events has led José Andrés, a well-renowned Washington restaurateur, to lament on social media about the negative impact of the armed forces’ presence and the harassment by federal agents in causing public fear.

Delving into the demographic data, DC’s restaurants, hotels, and related sectors employ around 253,000 immigrant workers, making up around 36% of the total workforce. These statistics were brought forward by Migrant Insider, citing data from FWD.us. That’s not all – among these count about 42,000 self-dependent immigrant entrepreneurs steering local food and service businesses.

Further evidence of the impact comes from Maketto, an Asian restaurant, and marketplace in northeast DC, voicing their concern about their immigrant workers on social media. Just last week, they shared, two of their esteemed team members were detained while simply commuting home post-work. A chilling moment, as those workers are still enduring custody while their families and fellow workers anxiously hope for their release.

The imagined reality of a vibrant, bustling family-owned business was shattered for Hernán, particularly after a sluggish summer. He is on the lookout for bilingual personnel residing in DC, willing to work in these trying times enabling the restaurant to resume service. Yet, he is unsure of the success of such a search.

Echoing Hernán’s experience is the sign in Spanish posted on the doors of Elizabeth Pupusería & Deli, near the Columbia Heights neighborhood. The translated text spoke of their temporary cessation due to the deteriorating situation and voiced hope for better days ahead. The establishment is owned by Elizabeth Rodriguez, a Salvadorian immigrant in DC for around two decades.

Elizabeth shed light on the situation, stating that while the restaurant was managing to fulfill some called-in orders from their loyal customers, it had ceased catering to walk-ins. She dubbed the state of affairs in DC as nerve-wracking, and that fear had kept her regular crowd away. Most of her business was thriving due to construction workers who would bring sizeable group orders, but they haven’t been operational for the past month.

Before the crackdown procedure initiated on 11th August, Elizabeth used to shell out roughly $500 a day to her workers. However, her daily earnings then plummeted to just $300, rendering her unable to pay her workforce for the last two weeks. Consequently, only Elizabeth and her daughter-in-law are currently running the show.

In the face of such adversity, Elizabeth shared that they are exploring ways to avoid a permanent shutdown. Regardless of the restaurant’s operational status, she is still obliged to meet monthly expenses, such as rent and utility bills, making the situation all the more challenging. She expressed her desperation, seeking divine intervention to pull through these testing times and not accrue unpaid rent over the upcoming months.

Adding fuel to the fire is the reported targeting of delivery drivers on mopeds by ICE, making the situation worse for restaurants. This has led to bouts of emotional distress among drivers, such as Yonatan Colmenarez, an asylum seeker from Venezuela. This heightened anxiety has birthed fear and suspicion among the workforce about going outside, further destabilizing the already fraught environment in DC.