PFLUGERVILLE, Texas — For Saul Aguero, the owner of Fogonero, a Venezuelan restaurant in Pflugerville – more empty chairs at empty tables is not a sight he likes to see.
“Continuing this situation is unsustainable over time,” Aguero said.
But with authorities conducting immigration operations in the Austin area, it is something he is getting accustomed to with many of his loyal customers fearing for their lives.
“They are afraid that they and their families will be arrested in an ICE raid and they will not be allowed to live safely,” Aguero said. “They came to this country in search of a better opportunity.”
Those fears, Aguero says, are now taking a toll on his business.
“In the mornings, there were always between 40 and 50 clients, and now there are no more than 10,” Aguero said.
The sight of an empty restaurant is also a reality for Judith Medina, who owns Mexican restaurant La Casita in Pflugerville. Before, she had two employees, and now she is relying on only one since it’s been slow.
“We have days where there are no customers,” Medina said.
As business owners take in the quiet, they take assurance in the resilient spirit of the people they serve.
“Hondurans, Guatemalans, Salvadorans and Mexicans are very hard working. They strive hard to do the job well,” Medina said. “The immigrants are necessary in the United States.”
ICE officials recently said in San Antonio they “target only individuals with criminal records, convictions, gang members,” and threats to national security. They also added there are no raids or checkpoints.