Street Vendors in Los Angeles Face Arbitrary ICE Raids

• ICE raids spark fear
• Vendors lose daily income
• Solidarity campaign offers support

In Los Angeles, street vendors are being arbitrarily detained by masked immigration agents.

These detentions happen without cause or due process, creating fear and uncertainty in the communities.

“In Los Angeles, street vendors are being arbitrarily detained by masked immigration agents, without cause or due process, creating fear and uncertainty in the communities,” reads a statement on GoFundMe.

Many vendors are now afraid to go out and work, and those who do face low customer turnout, jeopardizing their daily income.

ICE Raids in Los Angeles

To respond to this crisis, the LA Street Vendor Solidarity Fund campaign has been launched to raise funds to support street vendors.

The money raised will be used to cover basic needs like food, rent, and other urgent expenses.

Distribution of the funds will be managed by community organizations with extensive experience in advocating for vendors.

This month, Los Angeles street vendors have been terrorized by masked immigration authorities who detain people indiscriminately.

Immigrant rights organizations have confirmed that vendors are being arrested while working.

The agents refuse to identify themselves or say where the detainees are taken.

You may also be interested in: U.S. Did Not Release Any of the Over 8,000 Migrants Detained at the Border in May

These actions have instilled deep fear in the streets of Los Angeles.

Those who risk going out to sell face empty streets and customers who also fear the raids.

For many vendors, losing even one day of work means not being able to feed their family or pay rent.

The Los Angeles Street Vendor Campaign (LASVC) has received multiple calls from families in crisis.

Family and friends are asking for help identifying vendors disappeared by ICE.

The campaign is raising resources to cover food, rent, and other urgent needs.

A high demand for economic support from Los Angeles street vendors is expected in the coming weeks.

Funding decisions will be made by: Community Power Collective, East LA Community Corporation, Inclusive Action for the City, Public Counsel.

These organizations have over 15 years of experience working with street vendors.

They’ve supported these communities during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and wildfires.

“Support street vendors impacted by ICE raids” is the central call of the campaign.

Larger donations can be made in the name of Inclusive Action for the City or Community Power Collective.

100% of the funds raised will go directly to street vendors.

Beneficiaries’ privacy will be respected, unless they authorize sharing their stories.

A report detailing the assistance provided will be published on the same GoFundMe page.

The fund will continue collecting donations as long as ICE raids persist.

Do you know a street vendor facing this situation? How can we offer more support from our communities?

SOURCE: www.gofundme.com