News Summary
In Houston, Texas, local restaurants, particularly those with a Latino workforce, are experiencing significant downturns due to recent immigration raids. Owners are reporting sales drops and increased anxiety among staff and customers, leading to a chilling effect on business. This trend is not isolated to Texas, as similar impacts are seen nationwide, bringing to light the economic contributions of undocumented workers in the restaurant industry. The Texas Restaurant Association is advocating for temporary work permits to help stabilize the situation.
Texas is facing a significant downturn in the restaurant industry due to ongoing immigration raids targeting the Latino community. Many establishments, including Los Primos, a Mexican restaurant owned by Oscar Garcia Santaella in the Houston area, report substantial drops in customer patronage and employee availability as a direct result of these enforcement actions. Business at Los Primos has plummeted by 40%, with numerous customers staying home out of fear of immigration enforcement.
Garcia, like many other restaurant owners, is witnessing the effects of these raids first-hand. Recent enforcement operations by U.S. immigration agents at a nearby apartment complex have caused complete sales halts for a week. The fear among customers, primarily from the Latino demographic—frequently targeted in such operations—has created a chilling effect on the restaurant dining experience. This situation is not unique to Los Primos. The Texas Restaurant Association reported in the second quarter of 2025 that 23% of its members have lost employees, 21% reported fewer job applications, and 16% experienced declines in customer footfall.
These developments are part of a broader national trend impacting restaurants across the country. The climate of fear surrounding immigration enforcement makes it difficult for businesses that rely heavily on Latino staff and patrons. Garcia highlights that the predicament is emblematic of a nationwide challenge, not merely localized to Texas. Likewise, the labor shortage is exacerbated in Texas, a state undergoing substantial development and job growth.
As of 2022, approximately 11 million people were estimated to be living in the U.S. illegally, with projections indicating this could rise to 14 million. Undocumented workers play a significant role in the economy, contributing near $97 billion in taxes that year. Data from the U.S. Labor Department in 2024 illustrates that nearly half of the foreign-born workforce consists of Latinos, underscoring their vital position in labor-intensive sectors like the restaurant industry.
To combat these challenges, the Texas Restaurant Association is advocating for the introduction of temporary work permits for long-standing immigrant workers in the food industry. This approach seeks to provide security for both employees and employers without implying pathways to amnesty or citizenship.
The situation has also hit Garcia’s workforce hard, with some employees too fearful to report to work, citing personal connections to raids—one employee was unable to show up after a family member was arrested during enforcement actions. This reality compresses the operational capabilities of restaurants like Los Primos, further entrenching the fears of diminished revenue and dwindling staff.
Overall, the repercussions of immigration raids are critical, resonating throughout the community and threatening the stability of Texas’s vibrant restaurant sector. The continuous cycle of enforcement drives fear into the heart of the Latino workforce and customer base, creating unforeseen challenges that business owners are now striving to navigate.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- France 24
- Wikipedia: Immigration in the United States
- Barron’s
- Google Search: Texas immigration raids
- Los Angeles Times
- Google Scholar: Immigration raids Texas restaurants
- CBS News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Immigration
- Community Newspaper Group
- Google News: Immigration raids Texas
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