Chicago Businesses Close on Monday for 'Day Without Immigrants' Protest

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Key Takeaways

Chicago and nationwide businesses join the “Day Without Immigrants” protest to highlight immigrant contributions and oppose Trump’s immigration policies.
Immigrant-owned businesses visibly shut doors to advocate unity, economic reliance, and resist fears sparked by stricter immigration enforcement policies.
The protest emphasizes immigrants’ critical role in the U.S. economy through business closures, labor withdrawal, and nationwide participation.

Chicago businesses will close their doors on Monday, February 3, 2025, joining a nationwide “Day Without Immigrants” protest aimed at opposing President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. This campaign, widely promoted on social media, seeks to bring attention to how immigrants contribute to the U.S. economy while voicing opposition to recent government actions many deem unfriendly to immigrants.

The entire country is witnessing this growing movement, which calls for immigrants to abstain from working, shopping, and attending school for the day. In Chicago, business owners, especially in the food-service industry, have stepped forward to show solidarity. By closing their businesses for the day, they aim to underscore the critical role immigrants play in their local communities and across the nation.

Chicago Businesses Close on Monday for ‘Day Without Immigrants’ Protest

Chicago Businesses Support the Movement

In areas surrounding Chicago, such as DeKalb County, many businesses have announced closures. Restaurants like Andale Taco Shop in Sycamore publicly shared that they will close on Monday and reopen on Tuesday. The shop released a statement explaining their closure as a show of support for immigrants’ contributions to society, the local economy, and workplaces.

Similarly, El Jimador, located in downtown DeKalb, made it clear that their business wouldn’t open to demonstrate solidarity with their community. Another nearby eatery, Nina’s Taco Shop, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the day’s importance in honoring immigrants and the impact they have on the country.

The protest comes amidst a wave of immigration enforcement actions recently rolled out by the Trump administration. In his first week back in office, Trump issued 10 executive orders on immigration. These measures have fueled concerns among immigrant communities, with plans for more deportations and heightened border control becoming the focal point of the administration’s policies. President Trump has also announced that federal immigration agents will be deployed to major cities like Chicago.

How Local Businesses are Affected

The uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration’s immigration policies has already had a visible effect on some businesses. Alejandro Morales, who manages Michelandia Bar and Grill in South St. Paul, reported a decline in customers ever since the administration began enforcing stricter immigration policies. According to Morales, people fear showing up in public spaces because they worry about immigration raids targeting employees or even customers.

This fear has forced Michelandia to adjust its business operations. The restaurant has scaled back its hours as fewer patrons visit, a trend caused not just by undocumented individuals worried about deportation, but also by those with legal status, reflecting a wider climate of fear. Morales revealed that Michelandia will shut its doors this coming Monday, standing with the “Day Without Immigrants” protest.

It’s not only restaurants feeling the squeeze. Grocery stores and other community businesses are also participating. DeKalb Fresh Market, for instance, will remain closed to join the movement. Their statement declared their support for both their immigrant and Hispanic communities through peaceful protest. In a similar vein, Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill in Genoa said its closure would symbolize unity with other Latino-run businesses, employees, and patrons as part of this national demonstration.

Other participating establishments in Chicago include Flamingos Restaurant and Ice Cream, Burritoville, Mi Tierra Fresh Market, Tamalos Los Girasoles, Paraiso Minimarket, and Los 3 Burritos DeKalb. Together, these closures highlight the weight that immigrant-owned businesses carry in Chicago’s economy.

Economic Power of the “Day Without Immigrants”

By pushing for a one-day economic shutdown, the protest emphasizes the important contributions immigrant communities make to both local and national economies. Immigrant workers, business owners, and customers collectively form an essential part of the economy. Events like this focus on showing just how interconnected everyone is, a notion echoed by Alejandro Morales of Michelandia Bar and Grill, who stated plainly, “We all depend on everybody.”

The broader significance of immigrant participation in America’s workforce also comes into focus. Based on estimates from the nonpartisan Center for Migration Studies of New York, around 8.3 million undocumented immigrants are employed in various sectors across the U.S. This figure represents more than 5% of the total workforce, making immigrants indispensable to the country’s economy.

The “Day Without Immigrants” protest doesn’t stop with business closures. Organizers encourage workers, students, and customers to withdraw entirely from their usual routines. By staying home, they aim to make their absence visible, drawing attention to the void left when immigrant contributions are missing.

Past Demonstrations Amplify the Message

This upcoming event is only one in a series of protests set against the backdrop of Trump’s immigration enforcement. Just last week, on January 25, 2025, thousands marched through downtown Chicago during the ‘People’s March for Justice.’ Organized by immigration advocates and pro-Palestinian groups, demonstrators called attention to what they saw as Trump’s aggressive policies, including deportation plans and border reinforcement measures. Marchers made their way to Trump Tower, demanding changes while condemning other controversial moments from the president’s leadership.

One prominent voice at the march was Elvira Arellano, a well-known advocate for immigrant rights. Nearly 20 years ago, Arellano sought sanctuary in a Chicago church to avoid deportation with her young son. Her story attracted international attention and became a symbol of resistance. Addressing the crowd, Arellano admitted fear under the current administration but reaffirmed her motivation to fight for her family and community. Her story captures the deep personal stakes many immigrants face as they navigate today’s policies.

This kind of grassroots activism mirrors the goals of the “Day Without Immigrants.” Many participating business owners acknowledge that the closures and disruptions could inconvenience residents for a day. However, they argue that this small sacrifice is essential for raising awareness about how integral immigrant workers and business owners are to everyday life.

A National Movement with Local Impacts

The economic activity around immigrant communities goes far beyond Chicago. The “Day Without Immigrants” is a nationwide effort, bringing together cities across the U.S. Organizers hope the collective response generates measurable results that show just how much the U.S. depends on immigrants economically and socially.

Although specific numbers of participants in Chicago are still uncertain, the list of businesses stepping forward indicates a significant impact, especially in neighborhoods with a significant presence of immigrant-owned enterprises. The messaging from this coordinated movement sends a clear appeal to policymakers: immigration policies that harm these communities also ripple far and wide, economically and beyond.

Even as protests take shape, Trump’s administration shows no signs of slowing its enforcement tactics. New policies are rapidly being enacted, while others face legal barriers that may delay them for years. In the meantime, protests like these underscore the ongoing tension between local immigrant communities and federal administrations pushing for major changes to immigration laws.

Conclusion

Scheduled for Monday, February 3, 2025, Chicago’s “Day Without Immigrants” protest highlights the vital contributions immigrants bring to the city’s economy. Whether by closing businesses, withdrawing labor, or avoiding purchases, participants aim to make their presence—or absence—unmistakable. Against the backdrop of President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration policies, this protest showcases the unity among immigrant communities and their allies in resisting measures they believe harm the social and economic fabric of their lives.

With many businesses participating, the protest is poised to create both visible disruptions and opportunities for reflection. The event aligns with similar actions across the country, reinforcing a message that immigration policies must account for the people they impact most. As reports from VisaVerge.com suggest, movements like this will likely continue to shape national discussions, promoting greater awareness of the critical role immigrants play in America’s past, present, and future.

For more official information on related policies, visit USCIS.

Immigrant-owned Chicago businesses to close Monday in protest of Trump policies
Dozens of businesses in Chicago and beyond will shut down on February 3, 2025, for a “Day Without Immigrants” protest aimed at opposing President Trump’s immigration policies and highlighting the economic contributions of immigrant communities.

Why it matters:

Immigrant communities and businesses are central to Chicago’s economy. This protest seeks to visibly demonstrate their economic and social significance while responding to heightened fear and uncertainty spurred by Trump’s recent immigration orders.

The big picture:

President Trump has reignited aggressive immigration policies since resuming office, including executive orders on mass deportations, enhanced border security, and federal immigration presence in Democrat-led cities like Chicago. These moves have alarmed immigrant communities nationwide.

Actions such as these protests not only spotlight the role of immigrants but also push back against policies perceived as harmful and divisive.

State of play:

Chicago’s food service sector, among others, will take a hit Monday as immigrant-run businesses like Andale Taco Shop, El Jimador, and Nina’s Taco Shop close in solidarity. Other industries, including grocery stores like DeKalb Fresh Market, are also participating.

Business closures aim to leave a visible gap in daily services, underscoring the community-wide dependence on immigrant labor and ownership.

By the numbers:

8.3 million undocumented immigrants hold jobs in the U.S., accounting for over 5% of the workforce, per the Center for Migration Studies.
Immigrants own or operate a significant portion of small businesses in Chicago and surrounding areas.

What they’re saying:

Alejandro Morales, manager of Michelandia Bar and Grill, told Axios:

“We all depend on everybody.”

Other participants emphasized solidarity, including Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill, which stated, “We stand with our community in a silent solidarity movement.”

Between the lines:

Immigrant-run businesses not only serve as critical economic hubs but also face disproportionate challenges under stricter immigration enforcement. Some report fewer customers out of deportation fears, affecting even those with legal status.

Yes, but:

This visual and economic disruption could deepen divisions rather than change policies. Such protests place pressure on local immigrant communities, who may already be navigating precarious legal and economic circumstances.

The bottom line:

Monday’s “Day Without Immigrants” protest represents an organized effort to highlight the indispensable role immigrants play in the U.S. economy, particularly in cities like Chicago. Amid intensifying immigration crackdowns, these actions underscore the urgent stakes for immigrant communities and the interdependence of all sectors of society.

Learn Today

Day Without Immigrants: A nationwide protest where immigrants abstain from work, shopping, and school to emphasize their economic contributions.
Immigration Enforcement: Government actions and measures, such as raids or deportation, aimed at ensuring compliance with immigration laws.
Executive Orders: Directives issued by a U.S. president to manage operations of the federal government, often with immediate legal effects.
Undocumented Immigrants: Individuals living in a country without legal authorization or valid documentation required by immigration law.
Grassroots Activism: Community-led efforts to create social or political change, often originating from affected local groups or individuals.

This Article in a Nutshell

Chicago will join the national “Day Without Immigrants” protest on February 3, 2025, with local businesses closing to highlight immigrants’ economic contributions. Sparked by Trump’s renewed immigration policies, this movement emphasizes unity and impact through absence. From restaurants to markets, participants aim to showcase immigrants’ indispensable role in communities and the U.S. economy.
— By VisaVerge.com