Tattered signs taped to street lights near Alonso Magallanes' small store on Des Moines' east side serve as a visceral reminder of the dread and anxiety that cloud his community. In bold red letters, they read: "Don't open for ICE."
Magallanes, owner of La Tienda Mexicana, one of the capital city's first Mexican grocery stores when it opened more than 30 years ago, says he has seen fewer customers since President Donald Trump took office in January. Some are afraid of the new administration's anti-immigration policies, while others are facing financial hardship. Rising food and living costs have forced buyers to tighten their budgets, leaving ethnic grocery store owners like Magallanes worried about their businesses' future.