BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — A Bakersfield bridal shop owner is struggling with a dramatic drop in customers more than a year after ICE raids swept through Kern County, with most of her clientele working in agriculture.
Maria Inguanzo, owner of Maria's Bridal Shop in Bakersfield, has witnessed how her business suffered following last year's ICE raids in Kern County.
"For example, last year we had lots of cancellations. Customers wanted all of their money back because they were no longer going to have a party," Inguanzo said.
For decades, most of her sales came from families planning quinceañeras — the Latino rite of passage where a girl transitions from childhood to womanhood at 15. Inguanzo says that's no longer the case.
"Sales have been slow, people are thinking twice about spending money and most of my customers about 60% are farm workers," Inguanzo said.
In 2025, 15 customers cancelled their quinceañera dress orders.
Inguanzo says January is typically her busiest month. Previously, she would receive an average of 40 dress orders, but this year she only had 25 dress orders.
"It's been a 60% decline in sales… that's only this year," Inguanzo said.
Out of all the cancellations she's experienced, there's one that she'll never forget.
"We had a case where a girl had to cancel her entire party because her dad was deported," Inguanzo said.
According to the Los Angeles Business Journal, Latino business owners reported revenue losses of 50% or higher since June 2025.
Inguanzo is hardly alone. Other businesses catering to a largely Latino clientele have also been impacted.
"It's from all over the U.S., Chicago, Texas, different states, and we're all going through the same thing; some have even had to close their store because sales were so low," Inguanzo said.
Inguanzo says she's had to cut back on hours for her employees to stay afloat.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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