Nearly 100 stores, restaurants and other businesses in the Tri-Cities area closed their doors Monday in solidarity of a nationwide call for “A Day Without Immigrants.”
That included two major anchors of the Pasco Latino business community — the SuperMex and Fiesta Foods grocery stores.
“Closed today. Thanks for your support,” was written on handmade signs in English and Spanish, posted on the door of the SuperMex El Pueblo Market on 20th Avenue and West Park Street.
The closures didn’t stop customers from trying the doors and walking away in confusion.
Similarly, throughout the central Pasco business district, numerous business were shut, including food trucks, small restaurants such as Pollos El Rey and El Antojito, and the popular Viera’s Bakery in downtown Pasco.
A Pasco business owner posted on Facebook an unconfirmed list of more than 75 other businesses in the region that closed for the day.
Pasco School District officials also confirmed to the Herald that the number of absent students was “very high” on Monday, but would not provide specifics.
‘Day Without Immigrants’
“Day Without Immigrants” is a national movement organized mostly through social media. The first event happened on Feb. 16, 2017.
Immigrants are encouraged not to work, avoid shopping and keep children home from school. It’s intended to highlight the importance of immigrants in local communities and their purchasing power in the economy.
The intent also is to empower people to take a stand against President Trump’s immigration policies, including plans for mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, whether they are accused of crimes or not.
Locally, about 14,000 Pasco residents, or 17% of the city’s population of about 80,000, are foreign born, including those who’ve become legally naturalized citizens, those with legal status in the U.S. and undocumented residents, according to estimated 2023 census data.
That compares to 11,000, or 13%, in Kennewick and 5,400, or 9%, in Richland.
Estimated 2024 census data shows that Latinos make up 57% of Pasco’s population, compared to 32% in Kennewick and 14% in Richland.
Day in Pasco
Latin Business Association President David Cortinas told the Herald that more businesses seem to be participating this year than the previous protest in 2017.
In a video posted on the Fiesta Foods Facebook page, business administrator Luis Moreno announced the Monday closure of all three Fiesta Foods locations in Pasco, Sunnyside and Yakima.
“To contribute to our community and support this great cause, we have decided to close our three locations,” he said in Spanish.
“Fiesta Foods will be closed in solidarity with our people.”
Businesses are expected to return to normal business hours on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
Over the weekend, hundreds of people peacefully protested in Richland on Saturday and Pasco on Sunday in support of immigrants and in protest of Trump’s policies. One person was Làzaro Aragòn, a Latino man from Walla Walla who was dressed as Jesus and carrying a heavy cross, to symbolize that Jesus was an immigrant who helped the vulnerable.