GAGE PARK – Local officials and immigrant rights advocates are calling on neighbors to shop local and support immigrant-owned businesses as threats of raids and reports of ICE arrests have brought foot traffic down in predominantly Latino neighborhoods.

At least three people were arrested on the Southwest Side Sunday, shocking neighbors in the area and leaving many afraid of leaving their homes, taking their kids to school or worried about family members, officials and organizers said Monday afternoon.

“Shop locally. Shop at the little tienditas [grocers], go to the local coffee shops.. Many of the businesses here on the Southwest Side are owned by immigrants,” State Rep. Aaron Ortiz told Block Club Monday afternoon.

On Monday, President Donald Trump announced “Operation Midway Blitz,”

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