How ICE raids and tariffs can hurt Hispanic business in South Florida

If you walk into a South Florida business and see fewer workers, immigration crackdowns could be the reason. As thousands of South Florida workers face pending deportations, a new report from research firm Brookings analyzes how rapid changes in immigration enforcement and tariffs are affecting small businesses and the communities they serve.

Here are some key takeaways:

Tariffs hit Hispanic business

Hispanic business owners are working hard to find ways to respond to changes in tariffs.

The United States has collected $259 billion in tariff revenue. But the federal government could owe businesses as much as $168 billion if the Supreme Court rules that the Trump administration improperly invoked an emergency powers law that hit dozens of countries with new tariffs, according to CBS News.

At Miami’s Premium Blend, Gino Santos sells small businesses wine-based liquor substitutes that allow them to pour cocktails without a liquor license. But recent tariffs on goods he sources from Spain have added a new financial challenge.

“We import from Spain and just got hit with a 15% tariff,” he said.

Immigration enforcement

Hispanic businesses in South Florida also are dealing with new immigration enforcement ordered by President Donald Trump. ICE raids and other immigration actions have disrupted business as usual.

According to research firm Brookings, Miami-Dade County had 146,000 pending deportations as of August 2025. That could affect the number of Hispanic employees, customers and businesses.

Policy changes

The number of Hispanic business grew from 2017 to 2022 across Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville, to about 91,000, including nearly 17,000 in South Florida. But policy changes like TPS could put that growth at risk.

Local nurseries and small farms have been hit hard in Homestead and the Redland, with some Hispanic workers scared to go to work and affecting business operations.

At the same time, corporate businesses are opening in historically Hispanic neighborhoods like Little Havana.

“Starbucks on Calle Ocho?” said Jorge Torres, manager of a Little Havana costume shop. “I never thought I would see that.”

Challenges in community support and funding

Looking at how cities nationwide are responding to these issues can provide ideas for Hispanic-owned businesses in South Florida.

In Los Angeles, for instance, residents launched a small business relief fund that gives up to $5,000 to businesses affected by ICE. Miami-Dade County offers different grants to small business owners.

In Chicago, the Street Vendors Association created a $300,000 emergency fund to support vendors who lost income or remained at home for safety reasons.

Supporting small businesses in minority communities is still the primary way customers can address these challenges, Torres said.

“Support your local businesses because they contribute to the community as well as give back to the community,” he said. “They hire local people.”

Michael Butler

Miami Herald

Michael Butler writes about minority business and trends that affect marginalized professionals in South Florida. As a business reporter for the Miami Herald, he tells inclusive stories that reflect South Florida’s diversity. Just like Miami’s diverse population, Butler, a Temple University graduate, has both local roots and a Panamanian heritage.