ICE, Protests, Curfew: Effects on South Park Neighborhood
At first glance the South Park neighborhood seemed to avoid the worst of the June downtown raids, protests, graffiti, and damage. Many residents said it was worse when the Lakers and Dodgers won the championship. But South Park businesses and residents were adversely affected and continue to cope with not only the aftermath but the continued immigration raids and uncertainties.
SPNA talked with business owners and residents. The names of the businesses and the sources for this article will not be named at their request.
South Park Businesses
ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) visited several South Park businesses. One owner described three men in ski masks, no uniform, no IDS entering his business demanding I9s for the employees. All his employees are US citizens. The threat of “cooperate or you will be taken in” was made. While no one was arrested, four legal employees quit. They know that legal citizens have been detained; they did not want that to happen to them.
A restaurant owner shared that during the demonstrations and curfews, he was losing $5,000 a day. People living outside of downtown cancelled their reservations. His business revenues dropped by 50%. He also had vendors who would not make deliveries.
Another restaurant owner closed for a few days after ICE sightings in the neighborhood. Workers use the bus to get to work. After news reports of people being arrested at bus stops, workers did not want to be rounded up and detained in less than idea conditions, incur costs of legal representation, and put their family through the ordeal of not knowing what is happening to their family member.
A bar owner shared that employees are carrying their birth certificates with them always, are suspicious of people, and stay at home when not at work.
Another business owner said he is not investing in LA any longer – he has been here 20 years. He does not believe LA will recover quickly from the current situation.
An employee shared that he put an air tag in his mother’s wallet so he could keep track of her. Legal or not, no one feels safe.
South Park Residents
While businesses have been hit hard including lost revenues during the curfews, our neighbors have stories to tell as well. In two cases, it was the spouse who tells the story. The spouse who is more worried.
One story is of a man born in Mexico, adopted at age 4 and moved to the US, and has a resident card. He discovered the name on his resident card is not the same as his birth certificate. He has tried for years to get this error fixed. Now he fears if stopped and the discrepancy is discovered he would be detained for this error. He is not walking the neighborhood or stopping in for a drink or dining out.
A born and bred legal resident of South Park shared her feelings. “I noticed unmarked police vehicles stationed in the alley behind my apartment building, followed by five uniformed officers surrounding the Starbucks on Pico and Grand—while mounted police were simultaneously seen visiting the Starbucks on 11th and Grand. In light of recent ICE raids across Los Angeles and heightened enforcement actions in the South Park neighborhood, this level of police presence feels different—less like protection and more like a threat. Normally, seeing officers around would bring a sense of safety, but today it sparked fear and uncertainty. For many in our community, especially undocumented neighbors or those with vulnerable status, this kind of activity can trigger deep anxiety. As we support one another and the local businesses that anchor our daily lives, it’s vital we lead with empathy, awareness, and a commitment to keeping our neighborhood a place of trust—not fear.”
And she was not the only one who now looks at LAPD with suspicions. I witnessed a woman walk into a coffee shop in South Park, see two police officers, and immediately said, “What are they doing here?” with concern in her voice. When told they were ordering coffee, she realized how on edge she has become. She is a legal resident. Many stories included comments of “I don’t know who to trust.”
A South Park resident attended an early demonstration at City Hall in support of immigrants. After a decision by LAPD to disperse the crowd using rubber bullets, this resident was hit in the head. Rubber bullets, while designed as a less lethal alternative to traditional ammunition, can still cause significant and potentially severe injuries. This woman sustained a concussion and needed stitches. The photos of blood running down her face confirmed the power of rubber bullets. And she was not the only one to sustain injuries as reported in local media – a photojournalist was shot in the head; an Australian correspondent was shot in the leg.
South Park Neighborhood
Did you know?
· California has 1.8 million undocumented residents.
By Debra Shrout