BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
For decades, most of her sales came from families planning quincea\u00f1eras \u2014 the Latino rite of passage where a girl transitions from childhood to womanhood at 15. Inguanzo says that’s no longer the case.<\/p>\n
“Sales have been slow, people are thinking twice about spending money and most of my customers about 60% are farm workers,” Inguanzo said.<\/p>\n
In 2025, 15 customers cancelled their quincea\u00f1era dress orders.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“It’s been a 60% decline in sales\u2026 that’s only this year,” Inguanzo said.<\/p>\n
Out of all the cancellations she’s experienced, there’s one that she’ll never forget.<\/p>\n
“We had a case where a girl had to cancel her entire party because her dad was deported,” Inguanzo said.<\/p>\n
According to the Los Angeles Business Journal, Latino business owners reported revenue losses of 50% or higher since June 2025.<\/p>\n
Inguanzo is hardly alone. Other businesses catering to a largely Latino clientele have also been impacted.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
Inguanzo says she’s had to cut back on hours for her employees to stay afloat.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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