The crackdown on immigration has intensified across the United States, fueling one of the country’s most heated debates in years. In North Philadelphia, where Portuguese and Hispanic communities are a visible part of the neighborhood, those concerns are clearly at the forefront of Victor, 73, a Portuguese Immigrant who has lived in the United States for more than 37 years.
About 17 years ago, Victor bought the Meat Shopper Plus on Castor Avenue at the intersection with Fanshawe Street in Philadelphia. Since then, he has hired, trained and served members of this community.
Victor believes immigration has been a complicated issue for many years, long before President Donald Trump came to power. But he also understands why people keep coming to the United States. Just like him, many immigrants leave their countries because they do not offer the stability and prosperity needed to build a productive life.
“America,” he says, “what would America be without immigrants.” And as great as this country is today, Victor believes the America we know would never have become what it is without immigrants. Still, he understands how immigrants and the communities where they live are scared more than ever.
Victor also recognizes another challenge: finding workers with technical skills. He can still find people willing to work, he says, but now he finds himself training them from the start. At the same time, he knows the health of his business depends heavily on immigrants both as workers and as customers.
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