Inside Luis’s Taqueria, in Woodburn, Oregon, piñatas streaming from the ceiling have a festive feel. But the owner, Jesus Gonzalez, said the mood has been more somber lately.
In 2008, the taqueria was packed when Barack Obama stopped by. A flood of people rushed there to see if they could shake his hand or catch a glimpse. Those who couldn’t fit inside the restaurant peered through the windows.
But these days, the nation’s politics are having a very different effect in this small rural community. Recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) raids – including one detaining 11 people not far from the taqueria – have shaken the small farming community.
People are wary about leaving their homes or spending money. The streets of the small town, dubbed by some as “Little Mexico”, appear quieter. Business is slower. And those who rely on the immigration community for labor, many of whom are already facing a shortage, are concerned about the economic implications of the crackdown.
Read the full story from The Guardian: “‘There is no way to be safe’: Oregon city fears immigration raids after 11 detained.”
