'A Day Without Immigrants': California businesses taking part in nationwide movement

Businesses across the U.S. - including in California - are closed Monday due to a nationwide initiative aimed at demonstrating the fundamental role immigrants play in the U.S. economy. 

"A Day Without Immigrants" encourages businesses to close and consumers not to shop in protest of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.

The movement has been spreading on social media over the past several days. And now, many businesses nationwide are participating in solidarity with immigrant communities.

Joan's on Third announced it would be closed Monday as part of the movement. 

"Immigrants are the soul of Joan's on Third. They have come here to dream, seek safety & opportunity and to build better lives for their families. We recognize the invaluable contribution of our immigrant community. Without you, we would not be here. A day without immigrants is a day for us all to reflect and honor the strength of our community," they said on social media.

On Sunday, a large group of people protesting Trump's illegal immigration policies blocked traffic on the 101 Freeway for hours as they clashed with local law enforcement. Video posted later showed a few demonstrators spraying graffiti on the freeway walls and appearing to vandalize at least one car that was stopped in the middle of the crowd. 

"We are gonna stand up for our immigrant community as long as it takes and we're not going anywhere," Marissa Ruiz said. 


"So many of us Americans are from immigrant roots, so we're here to stand up for them today and everyday, to show they're not alone. Our community is with you, and we'll keep showing up," she added.

"I wanted to be here because it's important for my community to support and I wanted my son to be here as well because we come from immigrant families, and we need to be here for each other," said Rocio Sarabia Cabrera.

"I want to not welcome ICE, to protect our community, and continue being a sanctuary state," she added.


A Day Without Immigrants was also held on Feb. 16, 2017, to send a message to President Trump in response to his pledges to crackdown on immigrants entering the United States. 

That day, the boycott also called for immigrants not to attend work, open their businesses, spend money or even take their children to school. 

Immigration crackdown

ICE agents began targeting major sanctuary cities immediately after Trump's inauguration, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta. The following day, Trump lifted longtime guidelines that restricted ICE from operating at "sensitive locations" such as schools, churches or hospitals.

Last weekend, the DEA in LA said it's cooperating with federal law enforcement partners on immigration enforcement. Also, ICE officers from ERO Los Angeles posted several photos on social media showing the arrests made. ICE raids were also reported in Riverside, Pomona, and San Diego.
 

The decision has worried many migrants and advocates who fear children will be traumatized by seeing their parents arrested in the drop-off line at school or that migrants needing medical care won’t go to the hospital for fear of arrest.

Following the announcement, the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation's second-largest, began handing out "red cards" - also known as "Know Your Rights" cards - to students with information about people's rights if they were ever approached by an immigration officer.

The crackdown has impacted local businesses, with many saying the ICE raids are scaring away customers.

Maria Rosario Sanchez, owner of Teresa's Haircut, says, "The whole day is like this; it's slow. People are afraid to come out." Sanchez adds that it's been sluggish all week.

The Source: Information for this story is from previous FOX 11 reports. FOX 9 contributed.

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