Recent times have stirred prevailing unease amidst Delaware’s immigrant population due to speculation of an increase in immigration enforcement. The consequence of this has been evidenced as a severe downturn in revenues of immigrant-owned businesses. People are fearfully secluding themselves at home, resulting in the trade suffering. In an effort to retain some economic stability, few businesses have attempted to offer free home deliveries using their personal vehicles to distribute essential staples. Fueling this climate of fear is an upsurge of rumors and misinformation propelled via social media, notably within Spanish-speaking clusters.
The palpable sentiment of trepidation can be encapsulated by the scene at one local establishment. Vanessa Padilla Camargo, an entrepreneur, found herself unaccompanied during what normally would be a rush hour in her restaurant. The normally lively environment of her eatery, Carniceria Camargo, was fraught with an uncomfortable quiet, the stillness only interrupted by the monotone hum of a meat slicer in the background. The visible absence of patrons and the untouched tables signaled a distressing change.
A restaurant like Camargo’s, located in Newport, would usually be a hub of activity at lunchtime, especially on Fridays. Now, this picture has largely changed. Reports indicate a sharp decrease in sales as immigrant groups in Delaware grow apprehensive, affecting even ordinary trips to the grocery store. As a countermeasure, Latino and immigrant-owned markets, such as Carniceria Camargo, have been compelled to provide makeshift delivery options for wary residents.
These entrepreneurs, in an effort to serve their scared customers, are personally using vehicles to make the deliveries, oftentimes free of charge. This change speaks volumes about the ongoing shift in Delaware immigrants’ lives in the aftermath of a certain president’s inauguration. This shift has been underscored by the propagated rhetoric against immigrants and the legislated immigration enforcement crackdowns.
‘Fear has pervaded among our people, and we feel obligated to lend support to our frightened community,’ said Padilla Camargo in Spanish, painting a grim picture of the current state of affairs. This sense of fear was underscored by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation that took place in Delaware the previous week, taking the form of a targeted fugitive arrest.
Details of such activities have been scarce, adding to the aura of terror. Despite the absence of any large-scale immigration raids in the state, it is important to note that the immigrant community’s usual activities have transformed dramatically, as stated by community health worker Adriana Viveros-Sosa. This drastic transformation is most evident in the fact that daily routines have been halted due to fear, a testament to the climate of uncertainty.
While former campaigns by some presidents evoked visions of mass deportations, uncertainty about the extent of these future actions persists. Interestingly, under former President Joe Biden, the number of deportations carried out was double the quantity seen under his predecessor. Biden’s strategy for carrying out deportations was marked by the usage of a COVID-era policy, Title 42, allowing swift expulsions of individuals. However, this seemed to inadvertently increase the rates of repeat attempts to cross borders, leading to inflated deportation figures.
For those living in uncertainty, a simple trip to the local mini-market has become an act of courage. Magdalena Garcia Sosa, the owner of Lancaster Mini Market in Wilmington, witnessed what fear could do to her customers. Sales had plummeted around 30 to 40% due to people’s associated fears of going out to shop. Mornings, usually characterized by the hustle and bustle of customers, have seen an eerie silence recently.
In an attempt to adapt and continue providing essential services, Garcia Sosa started offering home delivery within a 10-minute radius from her market. According to her, over a two-week period, she managed about 20 deliveries in her personal car. Despite not charging any delivery fee, she does solicit a minimum purchase value of $20. ‘We want to do our part, help people feel at ease, and ensure they get the essentials they need,’ she said in Spanish.
Delaware is home to approximately 98,000 immigrants, representing about 10% of the population as per the American Immigration Council. Majority hail from countries such as Mexico, India, Guatemala, and China. Regrettably, the fear gripping these communities has been inflated by misleading information propagated across social networks, predominantly Spanish-speaking Facebook groups.
In the face of these baseless rumors, immigrant business owners have found themselves assuming the additional role of dispelling fears. Among such individuals is Jose? Ortiz Flores, the owner of El Nevado Mexican Grocery Store in Middletown. Ortiz Flores felt the need to put rumors at bay that the ICE was in the vicinity of his store. Unsurprisingly, his statement was, ‘Everyone is panicking,’ characterizing the overall sentiment.
This fear has not spared Middletown, a community that has seen a notable growth in Latino and Black populations in its recent boom years. This is yet another facet to the narrative of fear that is plaguing immigrant communities across Delaware. It appears that the indiscriminate dissemination of misconception, coupled with the tangible repercussions for those caught in immigration crosshairs, has created an enduring climate of stress.