“Life has changed. You see stressed, fearful people on the streets—empty streets. The social life that used to exist is gone. When we realized our money wasn’t enough, we had to find solutions.
For Elly, the challenges faced by the community affected by immigration raids are not just about legal status—they’re also economic.
Elly, who prefers not to use her last name or have her photo taken, believes strongly that what affects one affects all—there’s no escaping it.
“Since this started, families’ needs have increased. Many people are afraid to go outside, others have lost their jobs, and some have already been deported. I believe we have to fight under whatever circumstances we’re in. We’ve changed the way we live and have learned to manage what we have more wisely. Things will change,” says the Los Angeles resident.
She has five children born in the United States. Her husband, although a U.S. citizen who works in construction, hasn’t had steady work—his employer cut back his hours.
“Life has changed. You see stressed, fearful people on the streets—empty streets. The social life that used to exist is gone. When we realized our money wasn’t enough, we had to find solutions. That’s when we met Vanny Arias from NELA Food Distribution. We called, and without hesitation, they started helping us. I told her there were other families in the neighborhood in the same situation, and they helped them too. She and her team are incredible; she is an ‘angel’. A lot of people wouldn’t know what to do without them,” she adds.
“The councilmembers aren’t going to come. There’s a serious lack of interest on their part. I’m an optimist, but also a realist. Every day is a battle—convincing my kids we can’t buy certain things, agreeing with my husband not to eat out, budgeting better, buying what I can and cooking at home.
Elly has lived in the United States for 25 years and has always worked in sales. If she wasn’t selling one thing, she was selling another. But now, even her sales have declined. Unfortunately, official visits from city councilmembers or other government agencies rarely, if ever, happen.
“I’ve tried to get involved in community projects, to help out, and I’ve realized they don’t care about us. We’ve asked for basic services, like trash collection, and nothing gets done. When elections come around, they show up, host events—and then disappear. You never see them again,” she says.
What she describes reflects the findings of several recent studies: the struggling economy and immigration raids have taken a heavy toll, particularly on the Latino community. Hundreds of families now rely on nonprofit organizations for food and other basic needs.
“I’m the kind of person who’s grateful even for a banana. Vanny’s work is invaluable—essential for our survival. It’s not just immigration; it’s the economy that’s hurting us,” she says.
Practical and realistic, Elly believes that as a community, they must find their own solutions.
“The councilmembers aren’t going to come. I’m an optimist, but also a realist. Every day is a battle—convincing my kids we can’t buy certain things, agreeing with my husband not to eat out, budgeting better, buying what I can and cooking at home. We don’t know when this will end, but it will pass. I miss the lively streets, the smiling faces, the stress-free days—when people felt like coming to this country was the best decision they ever made. Now, many are telling me they’re no longer sure. Others have already packed up and gone back to their home countries,” she concludes.
