A new study reveals that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities in the Chicago area imposed significant economic strain on local businesses last year, costing them over $1.2 billion. Researchers from the University of Illinois Chicago’s Great Cities Institute linked the financial impact to reduced consumer activity, particularly in Latino-heavy neighborhoods where residents made far fewer visits to restaurants and retail shops. The findings suggest a direct correlation between enforcement operations and spending patterns in affected communities. The study highlights broader economic consequences for businesses already facing challenges in certain areas.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Chicago-area operation cost local businesses more than $1.2 billion last year, according to a new study. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago’s Great Cities Institute, found that residents of Cook County’s Latino-heavy neighborhoods made “substantially fewer” visits to restaurants and retail businesses in neighborhoods without...
