"Old, young, Latino, Black and white, folks shouted warnings from cars and from businesses like a game of Telephone across 26th Street, the heart of this historic Latino community. One of them was Eric Vandeford, who glanced in every direction for any sign of la migra. "We all surrounded them earlier trying to get someone and they just left," the 32-year-old said. He looked down 26th. "I gotta go," he snapped and jogged off."
"Over the last two months, la migra has swept throughout Chicago but has swung its hammer with gusto on Little Village, known as La Villita by residents and considered the Mexican heart of the city. Imagine the density of Pico-Union with the small-town feel of Boyle Heights and the fierce pride of South L.A., then mix in murals and nationally known Mexican restaurants - Carnitas Uruapan, Taqueria El Milagro."
Violent-sounding scenes erupted as immigration authorities conducted sweeps through the West Side Little Village neighborhood, prompting widespread community alarm and vocal warnings. Residents of all ages and backgrounds shouted cautions from cars and businesses while organizers and local leaders scrambled to respond. Little Village, a dense Mexican heart of the city known for murals and landmark restaurants, experienced repeated operations including school parking-lot arrests. Community organizations that also fight environmental racism shifted focus to confront intensified deportation enforcement. Border Patrol leadership presence escalated tensions, including an instance of a tear gas canister thrown toward protesters.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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