A Day Without Immigrants..did you notice?

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Latino businesses are calling Monday "A Day Without Immigrants," and are closing up their shops across the country.

While the Trump administration ramps up deportations, participating businesses are showing how they impact the U.S. economy.

Anyone who took a drive along East Lake Street in Minneapolis on Monday may have noticed the empty storefronts with open signs flipped off.

"In just Minneapolis and St. Paul alone, we're talking about 350 to 400 Latino businesses that are closed," said Daniel Hernandez, owner of Colonial Market.

While Hernandez has closed his doors for sales at Colonial Market, he's remaining open for another reason: to help a community currently riddled with anxiety over fears of deportations.




While the Trump administration ramps up deportations, participating businesses are showing how they impact the U.S. economy.

Anyone who took a drive along East Lake Street in Minneapolis on Monday may have noticed the empty storefronts with open signs flipped off.

"In just Minneapolis and St. Paul alone, we're talking about 350 to 400 Latino businesses that are closed," said Daniel Hernandez, owner of Colonial Market.

While Hernandez has closed his doors for sales at Colonial Market, he's remaining open for another reason: to help a community currently riddled with anxiety over fears of deportations.


"It's been very difficult," said Hernandez. "A lot of people have been hiding, even the ones that have legal status."

The grocery store is helping undocumented immigrants fill out Delegation of Parental Authority (DOPA) legal forms.

Essentially, the papers are signed forms allowing friends or family to take care of children should the parents get deported. Without this authorization, those children would more than likely end up in a shelter, Hernandez said.

"The main thing that we're trying to avoid, is the trauma that a lot of these kids will have," said Hernandez.

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