Immigration raids can affect far more than the people directly targeted. They can reshape how entire communities work, shop, and spend.
Exequiel (Zeke) Hernandez, Max and Bernice Garchik Family Presidential Professor at The Wharton School, discusses his research into the economic effects of ICE activity on local communities. He explains why targeted areas saw declines in foot traffic and consumer spending, why local independent businesses were hit harder than national chains, and why the damage can persist long after a raid.
Hernandez also explores how fear spreads beyond immigrant communities, why reduced in-person activity does not fully shift to online spending, and what the findings could mean for local employment, investment, and entrepreneurship.
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