Quick Take
Fear of deportation has rippled through Watsonville's small-business economy since President Donald Trump took office, with some merchants reporting falling sales as customers stockpile savings and avoid leaving their homes.
Businesses in Watsonville say they have seen their customer traffic plummet over the past two weeks, a direct result of deportation fears in the immigrant community as President Donald Trump attempts to make sweeping changes to immigration policies.
“People are very scared,” says Maria Flores, owner of Maria’s Dulceria and Party Supply. “They don’t even want to go to the supermarket.”
From the first day of his presidency Jan. 20, Trump has issued numerous executive orders regarding immigration, such as opening the door for federal immigration agents to arrest migrants in schools, churches and hospitals — areas that traditionally have been considered off-limits by immigration authorities.
San Jose city officials confirmed that there had been federal immigration operations in the area last Sunday, sparking fear among residents in Watsonville. Community Action Board (CAB) — a local nonprofit that works directly with Santa Cruz County’s immigrant community — wrote on Instagram on Wednesday morning that social media posts spreading false rumors suggesting U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agents are in the area can instill fear and spread unverified information in the community.
The Watsonville Police Department had no information that suggests that immigration officials are or have been in Watsonville as of Wednesday afternoon, said police spokesperson Michelle Pulido.
Earlier this month, the Watsonville City Council voted unanimously to reaffirm the city’s commitment to support and protect its immigrant community. Watsonville Police Chief Jorge Zamora told Lookout he doesn’t want residents to feel afraid to call law enforcement because they fear officers might deport them. Immigration status is not the police department’s top priority, Zamora said.
Community organizations such as CAB have been hosting “Know Your Rights” workshops, teaching residents about the rights they have as immigrants and what to do if they encounter ICE agents. County leaders similarly pledged their support to the immigrant community following the Nov. 5 election, and affirmed that they still can access health services without the risk that their information will be shared with federal immigration authorities. The City of Santa Cruz has yet to reaffirm its sanctuary city status.
Flores, who sells Mexican artisanal goods and candy and rents out party supplies, says she had already been experiencing a drop in sales for a few months, but has seen an even greater decline in customers since Trump took office last week. She has also had to take a break from ordering merchandise from Mexico because fewer people are stopping by her small store on East Beach Street.
When delivering supplies for a children’s birthday party recently, Flores recalls that her client’s mom did not want to open the door because she thought it was immigration authorities who had come calling.
The fear in the community is only going to get worse from here, she says, likely making it even harder for local businesses that cater to the immigrant community. People don’t want to spend their money because they want to save as much as they can in case someone in their family gets deported, she says. Flores even fears that she — a U.S. citizen — could be racially profiled by immigration officials, and says others in the community feel the same.
Sergio Carrera, owner of Mexican restaurant El Frijolito on Alexander Street, says he’s noticed a “very sharp” drop in business since Trump’s inauguration. He adds that he’s never seen a huge decline like this in the past.
La Princesa Market — a Main Street grocery store that primarily carries Latino goods — usually has a consistent stream of customers, but lately the store has been much quieter, according to the store’s assistant manager, who declined to share her name due to fear of being racially profiled.
The store feels empty at times, which the assistant manager says feels unusual to her and other staff, since business is never slow. Employees at La Princesa Market are also trying to keep tabs on potential immigration-agent sightings for not only themselves, but for customers, too.
“Everyone’s scared, and people posting about rumored ICE sightings on social media makes things worse, leaving people more scared,” the assistant manager said.
If residents spot ICE in their neighborhoods, they can call the Your Allied Rapid Response hotline at 831-239-4289.
Kevin Painchaud contributed reporting to this story.
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