Veer Mahajan (From the Smoke Signal): Hi, do you mind if we use your shop’s name, or would you prefer to keep it anonymous for this interview?
Anonymous: Anonymous, yes.
Veer Mahajan: You’re good with that? Okay, I’ll start with some questions. Also, would it be possible for us to get a photo after this with you, or just the shop? Which one do you think would be fine?
Anonymous: We can do the shop.
Veer Mahajan: How have the recent immigration enforcement changes impacted you?
Anonymous: Me personally, or for the business?
Veer Mahajan: We’ll start with you personally, and then maybe move to the business.
Anonymous: I have a lot of friends and family involved. Some of my family members have been worried about going out. Regarding friends I’ve had recently, some of their family members have been deported; it’s been really hard on them, and there is just a lot for us to wait on, you know?
Veer Mahajan: Yeah. And you—have you been safe from that stuff so far?
Anonymous: Yeah, yeah.
Veer Mahajan: What about the business? Do you know how it has impacted this restaurant in general?
Anonymous: For the workers here, many of their families and friends have been affected a lot, and you can see it takes a toll on them. You can also see they are a bit more nervous when they go out, when they come to work, or when they go places—they just worry. They hear people saying things like, “Oh, there’s ICE by the hub,” or by Home Depot. They don’t want to go out there. They don’t even want to drive past because they worry they’ll get pulled over or stopped.
Veer Mahajan: And has that changed any of your hiring policies recently? Has it been stricter, or have you been more worried about the people you’re hiring? Has that come into play at all?
Anonymous: We haven’t really been worried about the people we’re hiring. We’re open to hiring anyone, so that’s about it.
Veer Mahajan: What do you think your biggest concern is regarding these recent changes?
Anonymous: Honestly, just taking families and ripping them apart. Also, the fact that we—and many other places—have a lot of workers who are likely undocumented. It could be bad for the economy, too. Everyone is scared to go out.
Veer Mahajan: So, it’s a lot of concern for the safety of the workers, not just here, but across the board?
Anonymous: Exactly. And from a business perspective, people don’t want to go out because they are scared. Especially as a Mexican restaurant, we have a large Hispanic clientele. It feels like that is decreasing because people are scared to come out—especially when you hear news that there is ICE in Fremont, for example. Then no one wants to come out.
Veer Mahajan: That makes sense. This might be a bit personal, so you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but have you or someone close to you had an experience with deportation or visa changes? If so, what was that like?
Anonymous: Personally, I have not had a close experience like that.
Veer Mahajan: And if you don’t mind sharing, do you know anyone else who has?
Anonymous: I’ve had some friends whose parents were deported. They were actually going to an appointment in San Francisco regarding their immigration status—trying to do it the right way. It ended up being a trap.
Veer Mahajan: So, the appointment itself was a setup, or was it just a coincidence?
Anonymous: It was a setup. He went in for a regular appointment. He usually went with his family, but he decided to go by himself that time, just in case. They ended up putting him into another room and arrested him. He was in jail for a few months in Arizona, and then he was deported back to Colombia. He was a good person and he was trying to do things the right way, but they just took him.
Veer Mahajan: I am very sorry to hear that. Thank you for sharing. Seeing the immigration crackdown increase along with violence conducted by officials, what do you imagine future enforcement will look like? Do you think it will have a lasting impact even after this administration, or will things go back to normal?
Anonymous: I think they should either go back to normal or fix what they’re doing right now. I understand what they’re trying to do, but they’re doing it totally wrong. It’s affecting so many people. There might be immigrants who are criminals, but there are a lot of people who are criminals. You can’t just grab everyone and assume they are a criminal just because they are an immigrant.
Veer Mahajan: Yeah, especially when it’s people who are trying to do it the right way; it’s counterproductive to take out someone who wants to be a citizen and is putting in the work. What do you want readers in the Bay Area to understand about the immigrant community right now?
Anonymous: We just want support. We want people to know that we are here to work and we are here for the country, too. We aren’t here to do anything bad.
Veer Mahajan: Where are you personally from?
Anonymous: I’m from Mexico.
Veer Mahajan: For many people, renewing visas and maintaining legal status has become more complex. How does this uncertainty affect your long-term plans for education, your career, or your life in the US?
Anonymous: Personally, it hasn’t really affected me yet. It has mostly affected my friends and family.
Veer Mahajan: Do you think it might have an effect on your future?
Anonymous: I’m not too sure; I’ve never thought about it like that.
Veer Mahajan: With increasing crackdowns, how are you and your neighbors looking out for each other? During times of crisis, we often see strong community support; could you share a moment where the community stepped up?
Anonymous: When there is word that ICE is out there, we all let each other know. We help each other out. We open our doors for people who want to come in so they feel safe. I know some customers support us by posting the “monarch” in their windows to show that their homes are a safe space for immigrants.
Veer Mahajan: That’s really good to hear. What are your thoughts on recent events, like the shooting in Minnesota a few days ago? Have you joined any of the anti-ICE protests?
Anonymous: I have not joined any protests. My family and friends are mostly worried that they will be taken and their families will be broken apart. It’s a lot of nervous energy. But I also have friends who are US citizens; they are safe, so they are able to retaliate more.
Veer Mahajan: And do you think that is a good way to show support for the immigrant community?
Anonymous: Of course. I think it’s a good way to show support.
Veer Mahajan: I’ve asked a lot of questions, so I’ll leave it open-ended. Do you have any more insights you’d like to share? This will be read by students and many others.
Anonymous: I just think that as a community, everyone should step up and help each other out, especially during these times. We should make sure that no one is afraid to go out—especially kids. I don’t want kids thinking their parents might go to the store and not come back. That does happen, and it’s something that should change.
Veer Mahajan: Thank you so much for sharing all of this. I wish you and everyone around you safety. Thank you again, and best of luck. Do you mind if we get a photo outside the store?
Anonymous: Yeah, okay. Thank you.