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Business Insider
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
LA's immigrant street vendors fear ICE raids but are still slinging tacos
Immigrant street vendors were out selling tacos and crêpes in Los Angeles during ICE raids and protests. Their customers, many undocumented, were afraid to leave their homes to patronize the businesses. Despite legal work permits, vendors said they felt insecure, facing financial and emotional challenges. The normally bustling streets of Little Tokyo in downtown Los Angeles were quiet except for the commotion of sirens and gusty helicopters. Loud bangs punctuated the night, but LA's street vendors were still slinging tacos and crêpes to the few pedestrians who had ventured out. It was the evening of Monday, June 9, the week that the LA Times reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained several hundred immigrants in Southern California. In response, the streets of downtown had been embroiled in four consecutive days of uproar. From the taco stand where Celeste Sughey works as a cashier, we could hear protesters and law enforcement clashing. Sughey and her co-workers have continued to sell food despite the risk of being undocumented because their families depend on the paychecks. "This is our only job, this is how we get to survive," Sughey said. She asked that the business not be named out of fear that it could be targeted by federal law enforcement. Two other vendors I spoke to said they had work authorization in the US but aren't citizens. They feared being swept up in what they see as indiscriminate arrests targeting Latino workers. "If you are present in the United States illegally, you will be deported," Abigail Jackson, a spokesperson for the White House, wrote in an email to Business Insider. "This is the promise President Trump made to the American people that the administration is committed to keeping it." The White House and ICE did not confirm with Business Insider the number of people detained or whether warrants had been issued in all instances. All the street vendors I spoke to said they've lost money, estimating that business has dropped by 75% because customers were avoiding ICE raids and the protests. The city hadn't announced the 8 p.m. curfew yet, but with all the ruckus, Sughey's taco stand would be closing that evening before 9 p.m. instead of the usual 2 a.m. At the time, she was hopeful that the raids and protests would die down. "Hopefully, this is just for a little bit and then it goes away," she said. A week later, the curfew in downtown had ended, but a sense of unease still lingers in the atypically quiet district. Business is slow, tensions are high, and vendors' families need the paychecks Less than 5 miles away, another immigrant neighborhood had slowed down as well. Benny Moreno, 52, operates El Patrón, a family-owned business that makes Mexican favorites like tacos, tortas, sopes, and burritos in Koreatown. The area is one of LA's most densely populated neighborhoods, known for its Korean American and Oaxacan communities. Since the ICE arrests ramped up in LA County, Moreno said he's noticed a dramatic drop in foot traffic, unlike anything he's witnessed in his 12 years of running his business. "Most of my people, they're Latinos, we don't have papers," Moreno said of his undocumented customers on the evening of Wednesday, June 11. "My support comes from them," he said. "They come to my taco truck and they buy my food, and now they don't want to spend money because they are not even working right now because they are scared." Denise, a regular at Moreno's truck who works in a dental office downtown, said there's usually a long line. From 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. I saw two paying customers stop by. "This is the worst I've ever seen," said the 33-year-old US citizen. Denise was ordering steak fries and tacos for her family, including her parents, who are undocumented and have been too afraid to leave the house. Denise, whose mom emigrated from Vera Cruz, Mexico, like Moreno, came out to support his business. Members of Moreno's indigenous Zapotec community were detained during ICE sweeps in the fashion district the previous Friday, Denise said. "We were just getting back up from COVID," Denise said of the street vendors. "It feels like we're getting shut down all over again. It's very hard." The slowdown is hurting Moreno's bottom line. He said he pays around $2,000 a month to rent his truck and maintain a permit to park on the streets. "I'm worried because my bill is too high," Moreno said, adding that he has no choice but to continue his late-night operation from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. to support his wife and two kids. "I'm working hard to support my family to pay my bills and my rent." Claudia Antonio and Abel Pacheco are in a similar position. They started selling $12 crêpes last fall to set themselves apart from street vendors who serve traditional Mexican food. The couple said their business, La Chinantla, used to pull in about $200 a night; recently, it's been as low as $60 a night in Koreatown. "We get prepared, we have to throw it away because it won't be good for the next day," Antonio said of having to dispose of fresh fruit because of low sales. The Oaxacan immigrants, who have three children, live in subsidized housing in downtown Los Angeles, paying a little over $1,000 a month for a three-bedroom apartment. "We're barely surviving," Antonio said. Selling on the street, she said, varies so much day to day, it's hard to make a consistent income. "Now the rent is coming up. That's why we're outside right now. Otherwise, we stay home." Work authorization is not enough for immigrant vendors to feel secure Antonio and Moreno both said they have work authorization to operate their food businesses, but since they aren't citizens, they've been feeling more anxious than ever. Publications including the Los Angeles Times and LA Taco have published videos showing street vendors and their employees detained by federal officers. ICE officials have been tracking down non-citizens who pay taxes at their places of business and home addresses using records from the Internal Revenue Service, according to reporting in the New York Times. "I'm worried," said Moreno. "ICE, they take people, even if they're citizens, they do not even ask for the papers. They just take people." A viral video of a US citizen being detained, published by The New York Times, stoked outrage that ICE may be racially profiling Latinos. Antonio and Pacheco are also applying for adjustment of status to become lawful permanent residents with green cards. "It's very stressful," Pacheco said of the expensive legal process. "Every time we have to go see the lawyer or they call you, they expect you to come out with some more money every single time." Antonio said her immigration lawyer charges her $1,200 every time they update documents in their application for a green card. It hasn't been cheap for Antonio and Pacheco to realize their American dream. Antonio has been building up her business for over 14 years, buying new appliances and slowly saving up for her fridges, which cost $250 each, and a customized illuminated business sign, which cost $400. "We want our business to grow," said Antonio, who hopes one day to open up a brick-and-mortar location with her husband. "That's our dream, why we're still working hard, and that's why we're still here, even though it's not been easy."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
When Shaquille O'Neal had the LA Times publish full-page advertisement thanking Lakers Nation: "You have been there with me through it all"
When Shaquille O'Neal had the LA Times publish full-page advertisement thanking Lakers Nation: "You have been there with me through it all" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Turning free agent ahead of the 1996-97 season, Shaquille O'Neal had a tough call to make. The 1993 ROTY could either continue his four-year association with the Orlando Magic or represent a bigger market like the Los Angeles Lakers that had just drafted Kobe Bryant. Advertisement Famously describing his Orlando situation as a big fish in a small, dried-up pond, Shaq signed a seven-year, $121M contract with the Lakers. A decision that the Louisiana State University product would never regret, establishing himself as the most dominant center to play the game. Donning the 'Purple and Gold,' Shaq played eight seasons for the Lakers between 1996-2004. Delivering three titles to the city of Los Angeles, the 'Big Diesel' was Finals MVP every time. Completing the 3-peat in 2002, the following years were nothing short of a soap opera. The internal tensions reached a point where a decision was made to trade Shaq to the Miami Heat. Bidding farewell to the Lakers fans, the fifteen-time All-Star issued a full-page advertisement in the LA Times, which stated, 'I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your incredible support over the last eight years. I am moving on to the next chapter in my career, but I will never forget the support that you gave me,' the article mentioned. Advertisement The message further stated, 'I will miss each and every one of you. You have been there with me through it all. We never could have won any of the championships without you.' The ad included a picture of Shaq gripping the basketball in one hand. Locker room tensions The friction between Shaq and Kobe was more than evident, with the two superstars not shying away from taking digs at each other publicly. After the 3-peat in 2002, reports surrounding the seven-foot center's unprofessionalism began doing the rounds. Whether it was his reduced efforts in practice, dealing with injuries, or lacking the required conditioning. On the other end, there was Kobe's Mamba Mentality, which paved the way for friction between the two Lakers teammates. This was heightened courtesy of them not winning the chip in the coming two years. Eventually, a call was made to trade Shaq, breaking the tandem and marking the end of an era. Nonetheless, the former teammates would bury the hatchet during the 2009 All-Star Game when they were named Co-MVPs. Advertisement Related: "I think it's a waste of time" - Tracy McGrady explains why it's pointless for young players to play in the G-League Getting his statue In 2017, the Lakers honored Shaq's contributions to the franchise with a bronze statue of him dunking. The statue ceremony had greats like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Phil Jackson and the late Kobe Bryant in attendance. Marking an emotional moment for the O'Neal family. During his tenure with the Lakers, Shaq averaged 27.0 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks on 57.5 percent shooting from the field. The veteran center helped the franchise make it to four NBA Finals, winning three of them, with his unparalleled dominance setting a new precedent. Advertisement Related: "I can't get so close to it, too, because of my competitive nature" - Michael Jordan on why he can't get himself to be a fan of any one player in the NBA This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Mint
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Immigration Raids Spread to Agriculture as Meat Plant Targeted
(Bloomberg) -- Immigration raids rocking cities from Los Angeles to Chicago are spreading to the agriculture industry, with a meat plant in the Midwest and fruit workers in California being targeted. More than 70 people were detained after a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid at a meat plant in Omaha, Nebraska, earlier this week. Federal agents were also spotted at a field where farm laborers were picking blueberries in Tulare County, California, the LA Times reported. The administration of President Donald Trump is ramping up immigration raids across the country, and farm workers are no longer being spared. Almost half of the more than 850,000 crop workers in the US are undocumented, the Department of Agriculture estimates. The raid in Omaha found some undocumented immigrants at the Glenn Valley Foods facility, which makes products such as beef, chicken and pork for retail and other food-service providers. That was the biggest workforce enforcement operation in the state so far under Trump's second term. In California, the nation's largest agricultural state, federal agents showed up in farm fields and packinghouses from the Central Coast to the San Joaquin Valley, according to the LA Times. Elizabeth Strater, vice president of the United Farm Workers, told the newspapers that there has been an 'uptick in the chaotic presence of immigration enforcement, particularly the Border Patrol.' 'We are deeply alarmed by the latest actions from the Trump Administration targeting workers at agricultural fields, packinghouses, and other facilities from the Central Coast to the Central Valley,' said California Democratic Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff. 'Without the people who work through harsh conditions — extreme heat, cold weather, or pouring rain — feeding the nation would be impossible.' The raid in Omaha has already impacted production, with the facility now running with less than a third of its normal staff, according to Chad Hartmann, president of Glenn Valley Foods. 'We've done our best' to ramp up production, Hartmann said by phone. --With assistance from Gerson Freitas Jr., Erin Ailworth and Eliyahu Kamisher. More stories like this are available on
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Officials unleash surprising new weapon in fight against deadly mosquitoes in US: 'There's now evidence that it can be incorporated'
Officials in Southern California have come up with a plan to control an invasive mosquito species and the diseases they spread, the Los Angeles Times reported. Scientists at local vector districts – agencies responsible for controlling disease-carrying species – applied a technique that's been used on invasive insects since the 1950s. In 2023, one vector district released thousands of sterile male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes across select neighborhoods to study the effects, according to the LA Times. The results were clear. Populations of the species diminished by 33% in one year. The Aedes aegypti, also known as the yellow fever mosquito, is believed to have originated in sub-Saharan Africa. These bugs can only fly about 150 to 200 yards, but manage to travel internationally on freight ships and other methods of trade. They're considered invasive to other regions because they transmit diseases like yellow fever, dengue, and the Zika virus. Aedes aegypti are distributed primarily across tropical and subtropical areas throughout the world. But the black-and-white striped mosquitoes have now invaded the southern United States and, because of the planet's overheating, are moving to the north and west. Right now, the mosquitoes are present in more than a third of all counties in California. The idea behind the mission is simple. Male mosquitoes don't bite, and therefore can't spread disease to humans. Females are the primary culprits there. When the sterile males are released, the mosquitoes can still mate, but the females lay unfertilized eggs that don't hatch, decreasing the population size. Vector district officials found that releasing sterile male mosquitoes into the environment was incredibly effective. Last year, a local vector control agency for part of Los Angeles County began releasing 1,000 sterile males bi-weekly, bumping the numbers to 3,000 during peak season from August to November. "Many medium to smaller districts are now interested to use our approach," Solomon Birhanie, scientific director for West Valley Vector Control, told the LA Times. "Because there's now evidence that it can be incorporated into abatement programs without the need for hiring highly skilled personnel or demanding a larger amount of budget." Should we be actively working to kill invasive species? Absolutely It depends on the species I don't know No — leave nature alone Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Buzz Feed
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Dakota Jokes "Madame Web" Flop Was 'Not Her Fault'
Dakota Johnson is reflecting on the negative reception her film Madame Web was met with last year. The Fifty Shades Of Grey star appeared alongside Sydney Sweeney and The Last Of Us' Isabela Merced in the Spider-Man spin-off, taking the lead as Cassandra Webb. Upon its release, Madame Web was near-unanimously slammed by critics, and was also a bomb at the box office. Asked about the project during a new interview with the LA Times, Dakota quipped: 'It wasn't my fault.' She explained: 'There's this thing that happens now where a lot of creative decisions are made by committee. Or made by people who don't have a creative bone in their body. And it's really hard to make art that way. Or to make something entertaining that way. 'And I think unfortunately, with Madame Web, it started out as something and turned into something else. And I was just sort of along for the ride at that point. But that happens. Bigger-budget movies fail all the time.' 'I don't have a Band-Aid over it,' she claimed. 'There's no part of me that's like, 'Oh, I'll never do that again' to anything. I've done even tiny movies that didn't do well. Who cares?' Shortly after the movie's release, Dakota admitted she was 'not surprised' to see Madame Web being picked apart in the way that it was. 'It was a real learning experience, and of course it's not nice to be a part of something that's ripped to shreds,' she said. 'But I can't say that I don't understand.' Dakota previously told Entertainment Weekly: '[Before Madame Web, I'd] never really done a movie where you are on a blue screen, and there's fake explosions going off, and someone's going, 'Explosion!' and you act like there's an explosion. That to me was absolutely psychotic. 'I was like, 'I don't know if this is going to be good at all! I hope that I did an okay job!'.'
