Nader, who was forced to close his furniture store in Corona, one of Donald Trump’s anti -immigration neighborhood in Queens, as he was practically empty for fear and uncertainty: “The work has died almost.”
“Since January 2025 (…) No one goes out to the street or buys furniture because people are afraid” to be detained or deported, he told this American from a Palestinian Agence France -Presse, which ensures that the “worst crisis” that lived in 35 years of furniture works, and nine of them in this neighborhood.
Corona once crowded, Queens Center, one of the most cultural neighborhoods in New York, is almost empty and walking a few passers -by quickly.
“Sometimes they spend up to three days without any sale,” says 57 years old, described for the uncertain future.
Her customers, most of them are Guatemala, are often not documented, such as many residents of this neighborhood in the inner part of the queens, are threatened by the “mass deportation” policy announced by the Republican President.
He said that no one risks almost buying a mattress or wardrobe in the perspective of having to leave everything behind in the event of deportation.
The clothing stores, grocery stores, restaurants, money transfer agencies and food kiosks also complain that the company has decreased between 40 % and 60 % since the beginning of the year.
In the phone player where Javier Taraha, sales decreased by half. Its customers reduced the plans or pay the minimum so that the line does not lose. Most of them prefer to wait before buying a new device, he says.
“People have spent once without any problem. I have work, and I have money. Now they leave the work and they may not return home,” says the 31st Mexican.
Despite the first days of the Trump administration, ICE agents, responsible for arresting and deporting immigrants, rarely seen in the neighborhood, still fear. “This will last for four years.”
“What will happen if they continue to deport?” Small companies in the neighborhood “live from the same Latin. It is an economy that is simply distributed here.”
According to ICE data, between January 20 and March 12, 28,319 people were deported throughout the country.
Foreigners in the target are those who “commit crimes” and those “who raped” American immigration laws, according to the authorities. It does not carry the document – more than 11 million in the country – which illegally entered this category.
In need, Javier, like many of his acquaintances, took all his economies to Mexico.
In addition to closing trading and demobilization of workers, employers have begun to dispense with workers without a document, and to expect possible consequences.
Francisco Lopez, Ecuadorian, who works under construction, complains that all employers “fifteen days” exchange employees. He was salaries background, as he says with anger that fills his eyes.
The 53 -year -old Mexican, Aceina (imaginary name), who has a dining tent in Corona Square, also suffered from the consequences of the current immigration policy.
Last year, he earned a day about $ 400 to $ 500 (from 2.2 to 2800 dollars at the current price. With this money, you need to pay the transportation price, rent its kitchen and tents, buy supplies and support their four children, who are American citizens.
Now, there are days when you do not earn more than $ 140 a day (792 REEis at the current price).
“I must come to work even with fear,” says this woman who tries to reassure her young children, who are afraid to be deported.
She is considering giving her 21 -her older daughter, the guardian of the brothers if something happens to her.
“You are Americans, you can visit me in Mexico,” he says.
“If Mr. Trump says,” One of these people who do not have documents will touch, “The situation will improve.” Instead, he says he wants to expel more people. ”Nader wins.
