This includes a grassroots effort to organize so-called “buy out” events meant to allow vendors who fear being detained by immigration agents to go home early.
In Little Village, Rick Rosales, community organizer with Cycling x Solidarity, helps organize two of these “buy out” rides per week that typically support five street vendors each.
Street vendors targeted in immigration crackdown.
It’s hard to say how many street vendors have been targeted by federal immigration agents, said Maria Orozco, outreach organizer for the Street Vendors Association of Chicago, adding she knows of at least 10 who have been detained.
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) People ride their bicycle during Street Vendor Bike Tour Series, in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025.
Street vendors who are afraid to work or are seeing drops in sales can apply to get financial support through the Street Vendors Association of Chicago.
Orozco said local businesses have also hosted pop-up events where a certain percentage of proceeds go to street vendors. »