The popular vendor area known as El Corredor Salvadoreño was once again targeted by federal agents, who “kidnapped” at least four more people.
The alarms started going off around noon, when social media messages began alerting the community about ICE’s presence in the neighborhood.
This is the second operation in this area within just a few days, further heightening concerns among local vendors.
“We’re already ‘quemados’. ICE already knows they can come here and ‘kidnap’ a few vendors, just like at Home Depot. We’re already marked by ICE. The problem is that we’re without help,” says Raúl Claros, cofounder and interim executive director of the Salvadoran Corridor Association.
This organization has been asking the city for years to provide a nearby building so vendors can protect themselves from ICE and work in peace.
“We pay taxes and we have permits,” a vendor told Parriva a few days ago.
The city councilmember for that district, Eunisses Hernández, posted on social media condemning these operations and stated that members of her district team had gone to the area to help those affected.
According to Claros, this situation is confusing the immigrants themselves.
“Those coming on behalf of the councilmember are outsiders to the Salvadoran Corridor — some are ‘gringos.’ The vendors were confused about who they were, whether they were trying to spread fear or were different people altogether,” he adds.
The vendors plan to contact Mayor Karen Bass to seek protective measures for the dozens of sellers. In the meantime, everything remains in limbo.
