September 14, 2025

Houston’s Restaurant Scene Faces Challenges Amid Immigration Crackdowns

News Summary

Houston’s restaurant industry, especially those catering to the Latino community, is enduring a significant downturn due to immigration crackdowns. Business owners report sharp declines in sales and staff shortages as fear among customers keeps them away. With the community heavily relying on immigrant labor, the Texas Restaurant Association is advocating for work permits to stabilize the workforce. The future of culinary establishments in the area hangs in the balance as concerns over food prices and service quality loom.

Texas restaurants are facing a severe decline in sales and staffing due to intensified immigration crackdowns that are targeting Latino communities across the state. Many restaurant owners report a significant decrease in patronage as fear of deportation looms over their customer base.

Oscar Garcia Santaella, owner of Los Primos, a taco joint in the Houston area, reported a staggering 40% drop in sales linked to immigration raids that have unsettled his primarily Latino clientele. A recent week-long operation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the vicinity of his restaurant resulted in zero sales, illustrating the direct impact of these actions on local businesses. Customers were frightened and avoided leaving their homes, leading to a sharp reduction in sales. Similar experiences are being reported by other restaurant owners, with the owner of Birria Los Primos noting a decline in daily orders from around 40 to as few as 2.

The Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) released alarming statistics indicating that in the second quarter of 2025, 23% of its members lost employees, 21% received fewer job applications, and 16% lost customers. This trend can be attributed to the growing apprehension within immigrant communities, further compounded by staffing shortages affecting not only the restaurant industry but also agriculture and meatpacking sectors.

As of 2022, approximately 11 million people were living in the United States illegally, with projections suggesting this number could rise to 14 million. Undocumented workers are significant contributors to the economy, paying an estimated $97 billion in taxes in 2022; nearly half of the foreign-born workforce in the U.S. is Latino. Yet, the ongoing immigration enforcement actions have created a climate of fear, leading to decreased customer traffic and a shrinking workforce.

Emily Williams, President and CEO of the TRA, highlighted the dire state of the restaurant industry, calling it a crisis characterized by workforce shortages and dwindling sales. Over 970 chefs, restaurant owners, and industry leaders have urged for immediate reforms, advocating for a temporary work status for law-abiding, tax-paying immigrant workers to help alleviate the burdens stemming from these immigration policies.

The decrease in available staffing due to stringent immigration policies has forced some businesses to shut down operations entirely, such as food trucks that have had to close because of a lack of workers and dwindling customer numbers. With continued pressure from immigration enforcement, many restaurant owners fear that rising food prices and declining service quality may be on the horizon, further exacerbating the struggles within the industry.

The TRA argues that while it is essential to secure borders, it is equally important to pursue economic stability through immigration reform. The current state of the restaurant industry reflects a broader crisis, as many establishments grapple with the realities of a shrinking workforce and changing customer demographics amidst a climate fraught with uncertainty and fear.

In summary, the intersection of immigration policy and its direct impact on the Texas restaurant sector is reshaping the industry’s landscape. As stakeholders mobilize for change, questions about the future sustainability of these businesses remain a pressing concern.

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Author: STAFF HERE GEORGETOWN

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