ARTESIA, Calif. (KABC) — Many South Asian companies and eating places line an space off Pioneer Boulevard in Artesia fondly generally known as Little India.
Nonetheless, life in the neighborhood has actually slowed down since federal immigration raids started throughout Southern California.
Hina Ahmad, with the South Asian Community, a nonprofit group that serves South Asian residents and offers sources like authorized and psychological well being companies, mentioned concern over immigration enforcement has paralyzed the colourful neighborhood.
“This is likely one of the most popping locations on Pioneer,” Ahmad mentioned. “All of the tables normally are full. There’s meals going out. There’s loads of noise, however as you may see there’s actually no one right here.”
“We’re seeing loads of of us type of staying inside holding to themselves,” added Sumouni Basu, the group’s immigration legal professional.
They mentioned group members are too scared to go outdoors.
“They’re too scared to get groceries, they’re too scared to get meals,” Ahmad mentioned.
Based on numbers from UC Berkeley Regulation’s Deportation Information Challenge, greater than three dozen South Asian nationals – 33 folks from India, seven from Afghanistan, two from Bangladesh – have been arrested this 12 months by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
South Asian Community does not imagine the information displays the true variety of folks arrested.
Ahmad mentioned there is a cultural stigma round points like immigration so some could also be ashamed sharing what’s going on of their households.
“If it’d put the remainder of their members of the family at risk they won’t need to speak about it,” Ahmad mentioned.
The group mentioned South Asians love coming collectively, however the uncertainty of who’s focused in immigration raids will restrict socializing till they really feel protected.
“Lots of people are coming to us simply terrified of not figuring out what they will do… Even folks with standing are coming to us like, ‘Can I journey? Is that OK? Is one thing going to occur once I come again?'” Basu mentioned.
The community mentioned the language barrier can be making issues extra difficult since South Asian languages is much less widespread than English or Spanish.
The group is handing out “know your rights” data in a number of languages to assist folks throughout this time.
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