A Day Without Immigrants: Which states are closing businesses in solidarity with the immigrant community?

The protest called A Day Without Immigrants has businesses across the United States temporarily closing their doors to demonstrate their fight against President Donald Trump and his immigration policies.

The movement first emerged in 2017. Organizers for the protest say that the rally is aimed at highlighting both that immigrants make up a significant portion of the local workforce and that the hotel, restaurant, and construction industries are particularly reliant on the immigrant population in many states across the country.

Different types of businesses across several states that have decided to participate have closed their doors or given employees paid time off. The most visible supporters of the A Day Without Immigrants movement include Maryland, Virginia, Oklahoma, Illinois, Colorado, Minnesota, Utah, Florida, and California.

Many businesses throughout the larger Washington DC, area have participated in the demonstration, including La Casita Pupuseria, a Salvadoran restaurant in Maryland.

Many businesses throughout Utah, including Salt Lake City, closed in support of the protest. The Loco Burger owner stated that the aim was to raise awareness about how integral Latino immigrants are to the economy. He said:

"It's very important that people know that Latino immigrants are the backbone of the economy in this country."

In Oklahoma, the Good Egg Dining Group had multiple restaurant closures. Their statement called immigrants an integral part of the restaurant industry, saying they are the backbone of kitchens and service culture.

Carmen Montoya, who owns a Mexican restaurant in Chicago, spoke of the significance of the demonstration. She spoke of the fear many immigrants carry and the need to work without the fear of deportation. Local news outlets reported that other businesses across the state followed the same.

In Tallahassee and Quincy, many restaurants, food trucks, and small businesses closed temporarily to stand in solidarity with immigrants. The Bull Restaurant and Torero were also closed, posting messages of unity.

The movement got a lot of traction in California, a state home to a large immigrant population. CBS 13 reported confused customers showing up at some Mexican-run businesses, only to be told about the ongoing demonstrations.

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More about the reason behind the "A Day Without Immigrants" movement

A Day Without Immigrants was born out of the restrictive immigration policies and rising anti-immigrant rhetoric in the United States. It was started in 2006 and gained prominence in 2017, the protest seeks to draw attention to the importance of immigrants in the nation’s economy and society.

The A Day Without Immigrants movement is now particularly influenced by President Donald Trump’s executive orders against undocumented people, attempts to end birthright citizenship, and raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The 2024 protest follows Trump's second-term policies, ones that included the Laken Riley Act, which requires that immigrants be held in detention while awaiting trial even if they haven't been convicted of a crime.

Many reports online suggest that there is a very real fear among immigrants in states like Texas that they will face immigration raids or new legislation that will impact their lives.