MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – Management at a local Hispanic shopping center says they’ve seen a steep decline in business following accusations that the Memphis Safe Task Force is racially profiling members of the Latino community.
El Mercadito, a shopping center housing more than a dozen Latino-owned businesses in Hickory Ridge, has seen a dramatic decline in customers over the past two weeks. Owner Juan Hernandez says the current period represents the most difficult time for business in 20 years.
“This is a Hispanic place for the families coming here, for relaxing and shopping and food,” says Hernandez. “This is a bad, bad time.”
Alan Torres, co-manager of El Mercadito, said the change has been stark.
“With the two weeks that’s happened, there’s nobody showing up, and it really sucks,” says Torres.
On Tuesday, the Shelby County mayor’s office claimed Memphis Safe Task Force members with the Department of Homeland Security are racially profiling Latino residents during traffic stops.
Carlos Ochoa, an organizer with Vecindarios901, said Tuesday the task force’s current operations are targeting immigrant families.
“The Memphis Safe Task Force is giving its resources to enforce non-criminal arrests of our neighbors, friends, and families. Embedded in the task force is Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly known as ICE. This is the vehicle leading the arrests of our immigrant families,” Ochoa said.
Angela Trillo, the CEO of Amigo Community Center of the Mid-South, says the current situation has created widespread fear in the immigrant community. She says targeting by the task force has prevented some community members from working and shopping.
“People who are going out to work and do their jobs every day, to feed their families, right?” Trillo said.
Trillo encouraged fellow immigrants to remain positive.
“Don’t worry, feel proud. Because everything you have done so far is valuable for this country,” she said.
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