DRIVING THIS DROP IN SALES. WEEKS OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE STATE. ARE HAVING AN IMPACT ON LATINO OWNED BUSINESSES. SENTARSE EN LAS BANCAS SLOW FOOT TRAFFIC IS BEING REPORTED AMONG VENDORS AT THE GALT FLEA MARKET DUE TO FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY DRIVEN BY PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN. FOR VIRIDIANA NAPOLES, THIS MEANS A SLOWER SALES RATE OF HER AGUAS FRESCAS. NOSOTROS HEMOS ESCUCHADO MUCHOS COMENTARIOS ANDA MIGRACION AQUI ALREDEDOR. ENTONCES ESO ESO NO TIENE LA GENTE UN POCO. PUES ES NERVIOSO CON MIEDO. Q NO QUIEREN SALIR PORQUE ES VERDAD O NO ES VERDAD. AND THEY’RE NOT THE ONLY ONES. OTHER HEAVILY LATINO POPULATED AREAS IN THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO ARE ALSO FEELING THE HEAVIEST IMPACT. A NORMAL THURSDAY WOULD LOOK LIKE AT LEAST THREE OF US WORKING AT THE MOMENT AND HAVING MAYBE 3 OR 4 PEOPLE WAITING IN SOUTH SACRAMENTO, LAURA LOPEZ CRUZ SAYS HER BUSINESS IS EXPERIENCING A 40% DROP IN REVENUE COMPARED TO JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. IT’S HEAVILY CONCENTRATED WITH HISPANICS, SO IT’S EASY TO ASSUME IT’S AN EASY TARGET. THIS AREA SPECIFICALLY, ANY SITUATIONS THAT WE’VE HEARD OF GOING ON HAVE MAINLY BEEN HERE IN THE SOUTH SACRAMENTO AREA, WITH FEWER CUSTOMERS, CRUZ TELLS ME. SHE’S ALREADY BEEN CONSULTING HER ATTORNEY IN CASE OF ANY ATTEMPTED IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IN HER BUSINESS. THE ONLY THING I SPOKE TO MY LAWYER ABOUT IS, HEY, WHAT CAN I DO AS AN OWNER IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS WERE TO HAPPEN? AND HE JUST TOLD ME WHAT I HAVE TO SAY. MARICELA DE LA CRUZ KCRA THREE NEWS. WE ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE SACRAMENTO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WHO SAYS THAT THE RUMORS OF IMMIGRATION ACTIVITY COULD BE DRIVING LESS SHOPPING. BUT THEY SAY THERE’S A WAY EVERYONE CAN HELP OUT THESE SMALL BUSINESSES. IF YOU’RE WONDERING, WHAT CAN WE DO TO SUPPORT? WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP? HONESTLY, GO TO OUR BUSINESSES AND, BUY PRODUCE FROM THERE. GO, TO THE RESTAURANTS. YOU KNOW, AND USE YOUR DOLLARS THERE. THAT WILL HELP A LOT. IN 2020. FOR THE CALIFORNIA HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REPORTED THAT HISPANIC OWNED BUSINESSES CREATED MORE THAN 500,000 JOBS AND CONTRIBUTED MOR
Immigration fears take toll on Latino-owned businesses in Northern California
Updated: 8:01 PM PDT Jun 26, 2025
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Weeks of immigration enforcement across the state are impacting Latino-owned businesses.”Typically, on a Tuesday at this time, the flea market is full. There’s no space to sit on the benches,” Viridiana Napoles, a vendor at the Galt flea market, told KCRA 3.Slow foot traffic is being reported among vendors at the Galt Flea Market due to fear and uncertainty driven by President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.Locally, Napoles says rumors about immigration enforcement in the region are also impacting their sales. “We’ve heard rumors about immigration agents around the area, and that’s what has some worried. They’re nervous, afraid, and don’t want to go out because it might be true,” she said.Other heavily Latino-populated areas in the city of Sacramento are also feeling the heaviest impact. In south Sacramento, Laura López Cruz says her business is experiencing a 40% drop in revenue compared to January of this year.” It’s heavily concentrated with Hispanics, so it’s easy to assume it’s an easy target – this area specifically – any situations that we’ve heard of going on, have mainly been here in the south Sacramento area,” she said.With fewer customers, López Cruz tells KCRA she’s already been consulting her attorney in case of any attempted immigration enforcement in her business.”The only thing I spoke to my lawyer about is ‘hey, what can I do as an owner if something like this were to happen?’ and he just told me what I have to say,” López Cruz said.In 2024, the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce reported that Hispanic-owned businesses created more than 500,000 jobs in the state and contributed more than $100 billion in annual revenue to the state’s economy.”If you’re wondering, ‘what can we do to support?’ ‘What can we do to help?’ Honestly, go to our businesses and buy produce from there. Go to our restaurants and use your dollars there – that will help a lot,” said Cathy Rodriguez-Aguirre with the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
Weeks of immigration enforcement across the state are impacting Latino-owned businesses.
“Typically, on a Tuesday at this time, the flea market is full. There’s no space to sit on the benches,” Viridiana Napoles, a vendor at the Galt flea market, told KCRA 3.
Slow foot traffic is being reported among vendors at the Galt Flea Market due to fear and uncertainty driven by President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Locally, Napoles says rumors about immigration enforcement in the region are also impacting their sales.
“We’ve heard rumors about immigration agents around the area, and that’s what has some worried. They’re nervous, afraid, and don’t want to go out because it might be true,” she said.
Other heavily Latino-populated areas in the city of Sacramento are also feeling the heaviest impact.
In south Sacramento, Laura López Cruz says her business is experiencing a 40% drop in revenue compared to January of this year.
“[South Sacramento] It’s heavily concentrated with Hispanics, so it’s easy to assume it’s an easy target – this area specifically – any situations that we’ve heard of going on, have mainly been here in the south Sacramento area,” she said.
With fewer customers, López Cruz tells KCRA she’s already been consulting her attorney in case of any attempted immigration enforcement in her business.
“The only thing I spoke to my lawyer about is ‘hey, what can I do as an owner if something like this were to happen?’ and he just told me what I have to say,” López Cruz said.
In 2024, the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce reported that Hispanic-owned businesses created more than 500,000 jobs in the state and contributed more than $100 billion in annual revenue to the state’s economy.
“If you’re wondering, ‘what can we do to support?’ ‘What can we do to help?’ Honestly, go to our businesses and buy produce from there. Go to our restaurants and use your dollars there – that will help a lot,” said Cathy Rodriguez-Aguirre with the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel