Chicago Immigrants Resist Fear Amid Immigration Crackdown

Fri Nov 21 2025 15:25:33 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In the face of a recent intensified immigration enforcement operation, Chicago's immigrant communities, particularly in Little Village, are grappling with fear and anxiety while some, like Ofelia Herrera and Rafael Hernandez, choose to continue their daily lives.

As immigration enforcement actions escalate in Chicago, many immigrants face heightened fear, prompting some communities to boycott outdoor activities and curb their interactions. Amidst the chaos, Ofelia Herrera and Rafael Hernandez persist with their food stand in Little Village, illustrating resilience against the backdrop of a crackdown that has led to a dramatic drop in business. Despite facing potential deportation, they emphasize the importance of faith and community support to combat the emotional toll of such challenging circumstances.

CHICAGO (AP) — The massive Border Patrol presence on a recent Saturday morning in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood didn’t faze Ofelia Herrera even though she and her husband are in the United States illegally.

She waited for agents to move a few blocks away, then opened their stand serving Mexican-style corn on the cob and “aguas frescas” flavored with cucumber, pineapple and strawberry in the heart of the Mexican immigrant community, just as they’ve done for 18 years. Sirens blared through a chaotic day as Chicago police responded to a Border Patrol call for help and confronted demonstrators.

Herrera, 47, and Rafael Hernandez, 44, have refused to alter their routines during an immigration enforcement blitz in Chicago that has caused many without legal status to stay home since it began in early September. Even some U.S. citizens of Latino heritage are afraid to go outside.

The couple says working not only pays the bills but helps avoid depression, making them stand out from others gripped by fear in Chicago’s immigrant communities.

“The only thing you can do is have faith in God and not be afraid,” Herrera said in an interview at the couple’s South Side house. “Fear gives way to depression and other things. At the end of the day, they don’t deport you to Mexico but you are sick with depression because you didn’t have faith in God.”

Hernandez agreed. “We know people who have fallen into depression. They don’t leave the house. It’s very sad.”

From an Arizona Desert Trek to Chicago Homeowners

The couple’s Little Village food stand is in a bustling area that the Border Patrol has visited often. The commercial drag is lined with family-owned restaurants and vendors while strains of ranchera music create a lively atmosphere, attracting Mexican immigrant visitors from across Chicago and beyond.

Yet many of their friends haven’t ventured outside in months, fearing the immigration crackdown has motivated a grassroots effort to buy out street vendors to help them avoid public exposure.

Even in the challenging climate, the couple’s stand remains open, illustrating their resilience amidst adversity. Their sales, however, have decreased significantly, as much as 75%, since the start of the enforcement blitz.

They acknowledge the fear permeating their community, sharing stories of friends arrested by heavily armed agents, and voicing their concerns for their children who live within the complexities of their situation.

Despite the challenges they face, Herrera and Hernandez remain steadfast in their efforts to continue serving their community while confronting the fear that hangs over many immigrant families.

“People are frightened because they have lives here, they have kids here,” Herrera expressed. “What else is there to do?”