LA garment district ICE raids empty Santee Alley, sales plunge

The LA garment district has slowed sharply since June 2025 amid intensified enforcement against undocumented immigrants. The decline deepened after September 8, 2025, when the U.S. Supreme Court allowed ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officers to conduct identity checks in LA. On September 9, 2025, 11 a.m., the usually crowded Santee Alley stood nearly empty, with most merchants and buyers absent. The LA garment district ICE raids are cited by local businesses as a key factor in the downturn.

A Korean American apparel company owner said, “Since the undocumented immigrant crackdowns began, the garment district is in critical condition. Customers have stopped coming, and many small apparel shops are shutting down.” Yeonhee Lee, who has run the café French Bistro for 20 years, said, “The fear has clearly reduced the number of people coming. Even before the raids, business was weak, but now it’s much worse.”

Merchants say that when news of enforcement circulates, workers vanish immediately, while group chats share alerts and tips on spotting ICE officers. On September 9, only about 10 of the 50 shops in Santee Alley were open, leaving the area unusually deserted.

At Prociety, a hat store run by Eric Park, only one customer browsed inside. “Before the raids, we had more than 100 customers a day. Now it’s closer to five. Street traffic has dropped dramatically because of the fear,” he said. Health providers tied to the district also report steep losses. Daniel Clinic, which has treated garment workers for more than a decade, saw its lowest revenue this year in June 2025. Michael Im, the director, said daily patients dropped from about 30 to one-fifth of that number. William Kim, who operates a second Daniel Clinic nearby, reported revenue down 60–70 percent, with operations relying mostly on regular patients.

Street vendors feel the impact as well. A representative of Holy Grill, a kosher food truck serving the district for more than 10 years, said, “Business is very difficult. The streets feel empty.” Kelly Lopez of Paty’s Hotdog added, “Because shops have closed or workers stopped coming, our sales have collapsed. Everyone is struggling.”

Tension has been heightened since ICE raided Ambiance, a Korean American–operated clothing company, in June 2025. Merchants say they remain on edge, uncertain when agents might appear again. For now, shuttered stores, falling sales, and vanishing foot traffic define the once-bustling center of the LA garment district.

BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]