NOLA restaurants and workers suffer under ICE

On November 26, 2025, the Trump administration’s immigration raids began in New Orleans. Like many members of the local Latino community, R., a restaurant worker from Mexico, learned about them through social media. His group chats were filled suddenly with rumors of roundups by men wearing masks, and people wondering what they were going to do. 

“Every time I finish my workday, I have to say goodbye to my friends with a hug,” R. told me through Google Translate. “I don’t know if I’ll ever see them again.” (The Food Section is granting him anonymity to protect his physical safety.)