MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — On a recent afternoon, the typically bustling Karmel Mall in South Minneapolis appeared unusually quiet as business after business remained closed.

This expansive hub, home to over a hundred Somali-owned enterprises, offers a diverse array of services and products, from clothing and cuisine to insurance and accounting. Yet, the usually lively corridors were subdued, with only the occasional conversation breaking the silence. The aroma of fried foods drifted from nearby bakeries, while the gentle hum of central heating and the soft recitation of the Quran provided a backdrop to the few open shops.

Store owners, many seated alone amidst racks of clothing, have noticed a significant drop in foot traffic. According to business proprietors, both vendors and customers are on edge, fearing potential encounters with federal immigration officers. This apprehension extends to citizens and noncitizens alike, with some merchants opting not to open their doors due to low expectations of customer turnout.

“This has been the situation for about three weeks,” explained Abdi Wahid, who helps out at his mother’s convenience store within the mall. “Everywhere you look, shops are closed.”

Karmel Mall is not only an economic center for the nation’s largest Somali community but also a pivotal cultural and social gathering place. It encompasses residential spaces, a mosque, and Quran classes, solidifying its role as a vital community cornerstone.

The economic impact of the Trump administration’s “Operation Metro Surge” stretches beyond the Somali community: many immigrants are on edge, afraid to go to work or leave their homes amid the immigration crackdown.

But President Donald Trump has made the Somali community a special target of his deportation rhetoric after a recent government fraud case in Minnesota included a number of Somali defendants. Since December, Trump has made numerous jabs at the community, calling them “garbage” and saying “they contribute nothing.”

Wahid said early afternoons at the family business once meant 15 to 20 customers. These days, it’s tough to get one.

Wahid is a citizen, but he said the fear extends beyond just immigrants. Citizens are also scared of coming in, especially following the killing of Renee Good and the ICE raid at Roosevelt High School in south Minneapolis.

“I think that caused a lot of people to not even want to come,” he said, because they could be targeted “just because of their race.”

Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that law enforcement uses “reasonable suspicion” to make arrests under the fourth amendment.

“A person’s immigration status makes them a target for enforcement, not their skin color, race or ethnicity,” she said.

Upstairs, Bashir Garad runs Safari Travel & Accounting Services. Not only has the crackdown in Minneapolis meant he’s lost almost all his customers, but his existing clients are cancelling upcoming trips because they’re worried they won’t be let back into the country.

“They see a lot of unlawful things going on in the city,” he said. “They look at something bad, and then they think some bad things may happen to them.” The majority of his clients are East African, and nearly all are U.S. citizens. They still hesitate to travel.

“The government is not doing the right thing,” he said. “If there’s a criminal, there’s a criminal. Regardless, there are ways to find the criminal, but to marginalize the community’s name, and a whole people, that is unlawful.”

Ibrahim Dahiye, who sells electronics, said winter always used to be slow, “but now it’s totally different. No one comes here. All the stores are closed, few are open.”

Since the crackdown began, Dahiye said his business is down $20,000 monthly, and he’s now pooling funds to make rent.

He said he’s lost most of his customers. His employees are too scared to come to work. He tapped his jacket pocket, saying he keeps his passport on him at all times.

“I don’t know what we can do,” Dahiye said. “We believe in Allah, but we can’t do anything.”