Pasadena-Based Latino Restaurant Group Seeks Meeting With Border Chief Over Immigration Impact

The Latino Restaurant Association, along with regional partners representing thousands of restaurants across the United States, has requested a meeting with Thomas D. Honan, the Trump administration’s “Border Czar.”

The Pasadena-based organization emphasizes that potential mass deportations could severely impact the restaurant industry, which contributes more than $900 billion annually to the American economy.

Latino workers, both documented and undocumented, constitute a substantial portion of the restaurant industry’s workforce, serving in essential roles including cooks, servers, dishwashers, and management positions.

“Latino workers are the foundation of the dining experiences Americans cherish,” said Lilly Rocha, CEO & Executive Director of the Latino Restaurant Association, “We must protect this vital workforce while addressing immigration reform in a practical, humane, and economically sound manner.”

In a statement, the organization said it has extended its hand to the Trump administration, expressing confidence in finding a balanced approach that safeguards the economy, workforce, and shared cultural values.

The association is proposing four specific alternative approaches: expanded guest worker programs, temporary work authorizations for undocumented workers without criminal records, pathways to citizenship, and employer support resources.

In the statement, the Latino Restaurant Association warned of widespread labor shortages and closures.

“Latino workers are essential to culinary innovation and excellence, from neighborhood taquerias to Michelin-starred establishments,” the statement said. “The loss of this workforce could result in economic hardship and the erosion of a rich culinary heritage that unites communities and defines American culture.”

The restaurant sector currently stands as the second-largest private-sector employer in the United States, with Latino workers playing crucial roles across establishments ranging from local taquerias to Michelin-starred restaurants.