A massive immigration enforcement operation by federal ICE agents, the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, and DEA has swept through Los Angeles’ downtown Fashion District, known as the “Jobber Market,” targeting Korean-owned businesses, leaving employers and workers gripped by fear.

As one of the traditional economic lifelines of the Korean community, the Jobber Market faces severe consequences if these crackdowns persist. Concerns are mounting that the already struggling market and the broader Korean community economy could take a significant hit.

Among the targets were two factories of the major Korean-owned clothing company ‘Ambiance Apparel.’ On the day of the raids, enforcement agents reportedly arrested at least 40 undocumented immigrants in the Jobber Market, as well as at Home Depot locations near Wilshire and Union in LA’s Koreatown.

Home Depot stores in Southern California have long been gathering spots for day laborers, the vast majority of whom are Hispanic immigrants.
A Korean business owner in the Jobber Market recounted, “Heavily armed ICE agents stormed businesses, demanding to see employees’ IDs. The raids happened on a Friday morning, a regular workday, catching Korean business owners off guard and causing widespread panic. The atmosphere in the Jobber Market is chaotic.” Another Korean owner said they “quickly shut down the factory and sent workers home” upon hearing of the raids, adding, “Employees are extremely anxious, unsure when the next raid might happen.”

Reports indicate that authorities are also investigating potential document fraud by some employers, raising the possibility that not only workers but also business owners could face penalties as the investigation unfolds.

Korean businesses in the Jobber Market expressed shared concerns that continued raids could lead to: ▲ a further decline in already dwindling customers, ▲ workforce instability due to employee unrest, and ▲ significant drops in sales and production.
With the Trump administration set to take office, aggressive immigration enforcement is expected to continue over the next three and a half years. Reports suggest President Trump has pressured immigration authorities to arrest at least 3,000 undocumented immigrants daily, lending credence to these fears.

A Korean business specializing in jeans instructed employees to carry proof of legal status to work, noting, “Some workers are showing up with driver’s licenses, green cards, citizenship certificates, or even U.S. passports, creating an unusual situation.”
Another Korean women’s clothing business anticipated that “some employees won’t show up this week,” adding, “Many of these workers are critical to the production line, and their absence will inevitably disrupt operations.”

Brian Lee, president of the Korean Apparel Association, urged member companies to share information in case of raids and said the association is discussing countermeasures. “The Jobber Market is already in a deep economic slump, and these raids will deal a significant blow to businesses,” Lee said. He added, “With companies preparing for the August Summer Magic Show and Apparel Trade Show, the timing of these raids makes the impact even worse.”

The Jobber Market isn’t the only area concerned about immigration enforcement.
Korean-owned restaurants and other businesses employing large numbers of Hispanic immigrants are also closely monitoring the situation. Just days ago, ICE agents raided a well-known restaurant in San Diego, arresting employees and sparking confrontations with onlookers. Earlier, a raid on an underground nightclub in LA led to the arrest of dozens of undocumented Chinese immigrants. Industries and businesses with high numbers of immigrants, documented or not, are increasingly vulnerable to the Trump administration’s sweeping crackdowns.

By Hwandong Cho, Reporter