A bustling shopping district in Chicago known as the “Mexico of the Midwest” has seen foot traffic plummet by 50% — as residents say they fear the immigration raids promised by President

I’m in Chicago where immigration raids are rumored. A restaurant owner just broke down crying, she lost 30% of her clientele, they’re staying indoors. “Esto se va a poner feo.” whether there are raids here or not the $ blow, fear is already here. And people say that’s the point.

The second busiest retail corridor in Chicago is typically a bustling area dotted with taquerias and Mexican grocery stores in the southwestern part of the city. By Monday afternoon it had turned into a ghost town.

Activists monitoring for immigration arrests said they had seen no activity, but the threat of deportations continues and the local community should remain alert.