Weeks before a new county report detailed the economic fallout of immigration enforcement in the region, an employee at a small Panorama City ice cream shop had already noticed the shift: fewer customers, shorter lines and a lingering sense of unease.
“Customers have been low lately, sales have also been low,” said Lali, who asked her last name and the name of the business not be published due to fear of retribution. She said Thursday that the decline began about three to four weeks ago.
On some days she estimated the shop saw 30 fewer customers than usual.
She believes the slowdown coincided with increased reports of federal immigration enforcement activity in the neighborhood, including near a grocery store across the street.
“This is the placita [a small plaza] where a lot of families gather in the evening after school,” Lali said. “There’s a dance program for little girls out here, and other practices—but there’s none of that right now.”
Elizabeth, 4, plays with a ball as her mother works in Plaza del Valle in Panorama City on Thursday, February 12, 2026. A Los Angeles County report finds that federal immigration enforcement is disrupting some of the region’s most economically vulnerable communities like Panorama City. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) A young man rides along Van Nuys Boulevard in Panorama City on Thursday, February 12, 2026. A Los Angeles County report finds that federal immigration enforcement is disrupting some of the region’s most economically vulnerable communities like Panorama City. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) A woman passing a barber shop heads to a nail salon next door in Panorama City on Thursday, February 12, 2026. A Los Angeles County report finds that federal immigration enforcement is disrupting some of the region’s most economically vulnerable communities like Panorama City. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) People drive past the business district in along Van Nuys Boulevard in Panorama City on Thursday, February 12, 2026. A Los Angeles County report finds that federal immigration enforcement is disrupting some of the region’s most economically vulnerable communities like Panorama City. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) People walk along the Panorama Mall on Van Nuys Boulevard in Panorama City on Thursday, February 12, 2026. A Los Angeles County report finds that federal immigration enforcement is disrupting some of the region’s most economically vulnerable communities like Panorama City. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Boarded up buildings are seen along Van Nuys Boulevard in Panorama City on Thursday, February 12, 2026. A Los Angeles County report finds that federal immigration enforcement is disrupting some of the region’s most economically vulnerable communities like Panorama City. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) While waiting for a client, Alexis Lopez watches the movie Barbershop at Michelle’s Barbershop in Plaza del Valle in Panorama City on Thursday, February 12, 2026. A Los Angeles County report finds that federal immigration enforcement is disrupting some of the region’s most economically vulnerable communities like Panorama City. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 7Elizabeth, 4, plays with a ball as her mother works in Plaza del Valle in Panorama City on Thursday, February 12, 2026. A Los Angeles County report finds that federal immigration enforcement is disrupting some of the region’s most economically vulnerable communities like Panorama City. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) ExpandHer experiences mirror findings in a new report commissioned by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, which identified ZIP code 91402 — spanning Panorama City, North Hills and Mission Hills in the San Fernando Valley — as among the areas most vulnerable to immigration enforcement impacts.
The report, released Feb. 9, was produced by the Los Angeles Department of Economic Opportunity in partnership with the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC). It created what researchers called an Immigration Enforcement Vulnerability Index.
The index ranks ZIP codes based on factors such as the share of foreign-born residents from Latin America, renter households, the number of non-citizen workers and the prevalence of Spanish-speakers.
Residents found that the neighborhoods seeing the most enforcement activity also tend to be communities with tighter household finances and heavier reliance on immigrant labor, making them more economically exposed when enforcement intensifies.
While 91402 ranked highest, the pattern extended beyond the Valley. Other highly vulnerable neighborhoods include Bell (90201); Pico Rivera (90660); Southeast Los Angeles (90011); and the Silverlake, Echo Park and Elysian Valley area (90026). Additional high-ranking areas clustered around downtown, including Huntington Park, Westlake, South Gate, Boyle Heights and Maywood.
Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who represents much of the North Valley, including Mission Hills and parts of North Hills, said the findings reflect what many residents had already been feeling.
“The county’s report confirms what families in Los Angeles already know: federal immigration raids are destabilizing our neighborhoods and harming families and small businesses,” Rodriguez said in a statement Wednesday.
She said learning that North Hills and Mission Hills fall within the ZIP code most frequently targeted by ICE “comes as no surprise,” pointing to an incident on Jan. 29 in which a taco vendor was detained in the parking lot of North Hills United Methodist Church—a campus that hosts a food pantry operated by North Valley Caring Services.
“These raids are meant to spread fear,” Rodriguez said, “but I will continue standing with our immigrant communities, supporting local businesses, and ensuring all Angelenos can live, work, and prosper without intimidation.”
Calls to North Valley Caring Services seeking comment were not immediately returned Thursday. In a Facebook post two days after the incident, the nonprofit said that during a food distribution, “a community vendor was detained in the church parking lot.” The detention left families “fearful and uncertain.” Staff members “immediately stepped in” to transport pantry participants home and prioritize community safety.
Councilmember Imelda Padilla, who represents Council District 6 — including Panorama City and parts of Sun Valley — also acknowledged ICE activity in a Jan. 29 Facebook post, writing that “ICE activity occurred today in Council District 6. Several individuals, primarily street vendors and workers, were detained in Panorama City and North Hills” and that her office was closely monitoring the situation.
Even in areas where residents have not directly witnessed detentions, reports alone appear to be altering daily activities. A Sun Valley resident who asked not to be identified due to fear of retribution said Thursday that schools in her community issued multiple alerts within the last month warning families about the possible ICE activity nearby.
“We got announcements from schools letting us know that they had heard of activity close to those schools,” she said. “But we did not see anything. We did not see anybody being taken. It was just, ‘be aware.’”
Still, she said the climate of uncertainty has had ripple effects.
“The library has events, and they don’t have a lot of people showing up because they’re afraid of being in the streets,” she said. “The Sun Valley Youth Center is another place that has lost a lot of attendance due to the ICE rumors.”
The county report documents broader economic impacts beyond individual anecdotes.
Undocumented workers in Los Angeles County generate an estimated $253.9 billion in total economic output — roughly 17% of the region’s economy — and support more than 1 million jobs directly and indirectly, according to the report.
More than 80% of surveyed small businesses reported negative effects from immigration enforcement. Fifty-two percent experienced reduced daily sales, 51% reported decreased customer traffic, and 44% of affected businesses reported losing more than half their revenue.
The report also found that bus ridership in high-vulnerability areas declined by approximately 17,000 monthly riders during peak enforcement periods, and that workforce participation suffered as employees expressed fear about reporting to work.
Stephen Cheung, president and CEO of the LAEDC, said the findings show how enforcement disruptions ripple beyond individual arrests.
“Los Angeles County’s economy depends on a stable workforce, thriving small businesses, and strong consumer activity,” Cheung said. “This report shows how disruptions in any one of those areas can quickly translate into countywide economic losses.”
The report arrives as local officials escalate their response.
On Tuesday, Feb. 10, Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive directive barring federal immigration agents from using city-owned property, including parking lots and garages, as staging area, processing location or operations bases.
The order also calls on the Los Angeles Police Department to document and preserve evidence of immigration enforcement activity and to publicly report data. It instructs officers to activate body cameras at immigration enforcement scenes, identify federal supervisory officers when tactically safe, de-escalate potential conflicts with members of the public and take reports of suspected unlawful conduct, while preserving evidence for potential referral to state or local prosecutors.
In addition, the order directs city departments to secure access to non-public spaces on city property and to explore new disclosure requirements for city contractors with ties to the Department of Homeland Security.
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