A Columbia Heights restaurant that’s been in business for about two decades is now in danger of closing. Widespread fears of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids are keeping customers and staff away.
El Rinconcito II serves Salvadoran food and is known for its pupusas. Claudia Arias, the owner’s daughter, said it’s been a rocky year, and business has gone downhill amid President Donald Trump’s administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown.
“Our Latino community has stopped showing up,” she said. “People have just stopped coming. Cooks have been afraid to come to work.”
Even though she and her sister have other jobs, they’ve been helping their mom Reyna by covering shifts and trying to support the staff. Arias recalled what happened when one customer thought ICE agents were ou