ARTESIA, Calif. (Diya TV) — A surge of immigration raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the surprising arrival of National Guard troops have left Artesia’s Little India neighborhood shaken. Residents and shop owners say the increased enforcement is driving fear, pushing customers away, and hurting the local economy.
The panic started on June 13 when rumors spread that ICE agents planned to raid Pioneer Boulevard. Shop owners quickly shut their doors that afternoon. However, no agents showed up. The next morning, a team of more than 20 ICE officers wearing face masks and tactical gear raided a car wash. They arrived without a warrant, arrested five people, and refused to explain their actions to the manager. “People had their hands up and nobody checked their IDs,” one employee recalled. The South Asian Network captured the episode in a video, and they have been sharing it with the diaspora.
More tension arose on June 22 after about 50 National Guard troops attended Mass at Holy Family Catholic Church. Even though they came to pray, their uniforms scared parishioners. Many felt confused and unsafe. The priest called the Archdiocese for guidance. Father Isaac Cuevas, a senior Archdiocese official, advised the church to invite troops to a more private location in the future. “We appreciate their service,” Father Cuevas said, “but we want everyone to feel comfortable and at peace during Mass.”
Meanwhile, businesses across Little India have seen foot traffic drop. Once lively shops and restaurants, with signs in Korean, Nepali, Filipino, Mandarin, Hindi, and Spanish, now stand nearly empty. “We survived COVID,” said Rizloana Khan, owner of a clothing store. “But this feels worse. Nobody is coming.” Customers stay home because they worry agents might stop them, even if they have legal papers.
Sridher Aiyer, who owns a grocery store on Pioneer Boulevard, described his own encounter. “Men who claimed to be immigration agents showed up last week,” he said. “They questioned me about my employees. I told them we’re a family business. I’ve been here for more than 20 years.” Aiyer added that customers now shop elsewhere because they feel scared.
Immigration raids have created fear across other Asian American communities, too. Last month, ICE agents arrested Chinese immigrants at an underground club. Since then, international students and other immigrants have been calling the South Asian Network offices in Artesia and Los Angeles. They want legal advice, safety resources, and reassurance.
The South Asian Network estimates that as much as 15% of the Asian American population in California is undocumented. Shakeel Syed, the nonprofit’s executive director, says mixed-status families especially feel trapped. “People are scared to go to church or work,” Syed said. “That’s why we are stepping up with emergency support.”
As fear spreads, advocacy groups are now offering rapid intervention teams, multilingual “Know Your Rights” workshops, legal consultations, and safety cards.
