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Students, businesses in Garfield County participate in ‘Day Without Immigrants’

Rally goers held signs with statements in support of Garfield County's immigrant population during a March 2024 rally.
Andrea Teres-Martinez/Post Independent

Some local students and businesses closed or stayed home on Monday, Feb. 3rd to show their impact on the local economy as a part of Un Dia Sin Immigrantes, or “Day Without Immigrants.”

La Michoacana, a Mexican ice cream store in South Glenwood, was one of many Latino-owned stores to close on the first Monday of February. 

“They don’t understand our impact on the economy,” Maria Saucedo, a La Michoacana worker said through translation. “The country would grow even more if honest people were given the opportunity to work.” 



Those who participated in the movement urged people across the country to take the day off work, stay home from school, don’t shop, or use utilities in protest of President Donald Trump’s threats of mass deportation. The purpose of the movement is to prove how vital the vast immigrant population is to the U.S economy. 

“We are aware of student and staff participation in the ‘Day Without an Immigrant’ movement and are following existing procedures for staff and student absences,” Roaring Fork School District Superintendent Anna Cole said. “More than 59% of our students are students of color, more than 40% of students come from Spanish-speaking homes, and many of our students and staff have either lived-experience or generational-experience of immigration. We are deeply committed to ensuring that Roaring Fork Schools are safe, inclusive environments where all students thrive.”



RFSD Bilingual Communications Specialist Cristina Vargas said the school district doesn’t have accurate information about how many students stayed home on Monday.

The El Sabor de Mexico food trucks seen in Carbondale was another local, hispanic run businesses to close their doors in peaceful protest. 

“We will be closed Monday, February 3rd to show our support,” El Sabor De Mexico said in a Facebook post. “We are deeply saddened with what is going on in the world right now, but as a Hispanic small business, we will always stand by what’s right. We are with our community and our people! Immigrants are & forever will be the backbone of this country.”

Western-Slope based nonprofit, and immigrant led, immigrant-serving organization, Voces Unidas, implored everyone to not undervalue the importance of the hispanic community — not only in Garfield County, but throughout the country. 

“We believe every day should be a day to show the community how crucial we are, not only to Colorado, but the United States,” Voces Unidas founder and CEO Alex Sánchez said. “Aspen cannot exist without the labor force, many of whom happen to be Latinos, documented or not. 

The impact we make to the economic vitality of the valley is not lost on our community. We will continue to peacefully demonstrate our contribution to the country, state, or community that we live, work, and play in.”

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