Leticia Espinosa immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico in the ’90s and eventually settled in Chicago, where she’s made a home.
The 58-year-old is now a U.S. citizen and has her own business. She is one of the co-owners of Mexican arts and crafts shop Colores Mexicanos in Streeterville. She considers herself fortunate to be in a position to help her community and is always looking for ways to show her support.
That’s why on Monday her store was one of many across the Chicago area that closed their doors as part of “A Day Without Immigrants,” a national movement aimed at highlighting the economic contributions of immigrants and protesting President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
“I thought one way to help was to close my business for a day,” Espinosa said. “The loss of one day’s sales is not important. It’s part of the struggle.”
The movement encouraged participants to skip work, school and refrain from shopping for one day. The initiative spread across social media in response to Trump’s immigration crackdown. In Chicago that began last week with highly publicized raids, sending ripples of fear throughout the community.
A sign taped to the door at Colores Mexicanos on Monday said the shop was closed “in solidarity with immigrants.” The store’s other owners are Leticia Espinosa’s sister, Erika, and their business partner, Gabriel Neely-Streit.
Similar signs were posted at businesses in Pilsen, Little Village and other areas of the city. In suburbs like Berwyn, businesses announced on social media that they would close on Monday to support the movement.
Salvador Plascencia, who owns restaurants La Parra in Berwyn and Di’Vino in Forest Park, closed both establishments on Monday to support the protest. He hoped it would highlight the contributions of immigrants.
Crowds walk past a shuttered Colores Mexicanos arts and crafts shop in Chicago on Monday. Businesses across the country were closed for “a day without immigrants,” which aimed to highlight the contributions of immigrants to the U.S. economy. Some students stayed home from schools as well.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Plascencia asked government officials to consider tackling immigration a different way. He suggests creating a pathway to citizenship for the many immigrants who have been working and paying taxes without reaping the benefits.
“We want and hope that this movement can give way to a concrete plan for millions of immigrants that are already contributing to American society,” Plascencia said. “To have the possibility to work, study and function in society without being discriminated against due to their legal status.”
Jaime di Paulo, president and chief executive of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said the rhetoric around immigration is creating fear, which is taking a toll on the economy, especially in local business corridors.
“What we’re seeing is a direct reaction to that climate,” he said. “People have every right to protest, stay home and take whatever action they feel is necessary. The economic power of the Hispanic community in the U.S. is immense. We’re not disrupting anything — we’re making it clear that we are a driving force in this economy.”
Alexis Sierra, a hair stylist at Studio H2o2 in Pilsen, said her workplace was also closed in support of the immigrant community. Sierra, who is of Mexican descent, said the majority of her customers share her background or are immigrants themselves.
They talk to her about their fear, Sierra said, adding that she wants the demonstration to bring more attention to the plus side of immigration.
According to an analysis released last year by the nonprofit American Immigration Council, in 2022 immigrant households paid $579.1 billion in total taxes. That includes $35.1 billion in taxes paid by undocumented households, helping fund a wide range of services.
Sierra noted that immigration policy affects more than just the Hispanic community.
“I think it’s important to acknowledge that this is very much all across the board,” Sierra said. “Today, I’m standing with Mexican immigrants, but there are other immigrants from different backgrounds that are also facing it.”
Some Chicago schools felt the effects of Monday’s demonstration too.
Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Jackson Potter said teachers reported a “steep” attendance decline Monday in schools with large immigrant populations. At some of the schools, parents were already keeping their kids home out of fear of the deportation threats.
Potter said educators want students coming to school because they offer protection, but “we welcome social protest.” A few CTU members — who declined to give their last names — said the absences were noticeable.
Coby, a South Side elementary school teacher, said his school is predominantly Black but has many newly arrived immigrant students who stayed home Monday.
“We have to push back against the anti-immigrant rhetoric, which also doubles as anti-Black rhetoric,” Coby said. “The exact same things that Trump and them are saying about immigrants are things that have been said about Black people throughout history in this country. So that’s something that’s very important, is to let our immigrant community know that they’re not alone in this fight.”
Contributing: Nader Issa, Rafaela Jinich