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Trump’s immigration crackdown leads to “Day without Immigrants” one day shutdown

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — “Why push away so many people who want to work, who want money, and who want to have a better life for themselves?” asked Derek Garcia, a Santa Barbara resident.

It’s a question that has brought thousands of workers together in a day of (in)action, standing in solidarity with undocumented workers.

These workers are removing themselves from the workforce to highlight their impact.

It’s all part of a nationwide movement called “A Day Without Immigrants.”

“For the minority and Hispanic Latino community that is often overlooked and unseen, I think them not showing up to work today—not being in the fields picking your vegetables and fruits, not cooking in restaurants, not making your food, not doing all the things the industry relies on them for—makes a bigger impact,” said community advocate Annalisa Rivas.

On Monday, the absence of migrant workers could be felt—from Milpas Street in Santa Barbara to the fields of Oxnard.

Ablitt’s Fine Cleaners, a well-known business on Gutierrez Street near State Street, felt the impact.

Forty employees chose not to come to work, leaving the usually busy business operating with a much smaller staff. Despite the lack of workers, owner Sasha Ablitt fully supported her employees' decision.

“We were open today because we felt if someone wanted to work, we wanted to give them the option. And we also support them in their choice to be active in this way,” said Ablitt.

She also noted that many other businesses in the area were unaware of the silent protest taking place.

But can one day really make a difference?

“If it’s a pyramid and you take out the bottom, everything collapses,” said Garcia.

Immigration advocates say just one day without undocumented workers has the power to send a strong message to policymakers.

“Some of these immigrants have been here for years, and they’re still not documented. It’s not attainable. The pathway needs to be structured in a way where everybody can access the resources they need to become documented,” said Rivas.

There is still a lot of fear in the community surrounding immigration enforcement, but community members say this movement helps put power back in the hands of undocumented workers.

“In solidarity… we’re more powerful,” said Rivas.
 

Article Topic Follows: Community

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Mina Wahab

Arab-American producer & reporter with a mission to dig deep in interviews, share authentically, shed light on the issues that matter, and provoke deep thought.

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