ICE raids harken back to COVID-era hardship

Summary

---

Marketplace Morning Report: "ICE Raids Harken Back to COVID-Era Hardship"

Date: December 11, 2025
Host: Sabri Benishour (in for David Brancaccio)
Featured Reporters: Nancy Marshall Genzer, Daniel Ackerman, Elizabeth Troval

---

Episode Overview

This episode explores three key economic stories shaping the day. First, it covers the Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate cut and the uncertainties ahead. Next, it investigates the concerning rise in self-checkout theft. The episode culminates in an in-depth look at the hardships faced by Latino immigrant families in LA amid a new wave of workplace ICE raids, drawing poignant parallels with COVID-era lockdowns and spotlighting their cascading economic effects.

---

Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Reserve: Rate Cut Amid Uncertainty

Reported by Nancy Marshall Genzer (01:44–02:22)

• Fed Decision: The Federal Reserve voted 9 to 3 to cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point, aiming to counter a softening labor market.
• Uncertainty About Next Steps:
  • Fed Chair Jerome Powell signaled uncertainty about future moves:
    • [Quote | 02:01] “We’re well positioned to wait and see.” — Jerome Powell
  • Upcoming economic decisions will depend heavily on delayed and incomplete government data due to a shutdown; November’s jobs and inflation figures are especially crucial and are still pending.

---

2. Rising Self-Checkout Theft in Retail

Reported by Daniel Ackerman (02:22–03:51)

• Sharp Increase in Self-Checkout Theft:
  • According to a LendingTree survey, 27% of Americans admit to stealing at self-checkout kiosks, up from 15% two years prior.
• Why the Increase?
  • Financial hardship is the dominant motivator—many simply can’t afford basic goods.
    • [Quote | 03:01] “We’re not talking about people going through the checkout counter with a diamond necklace and a Nintendo Switch. It’s much more likely to be a loaf of bread, a gallon of milk.” — Matt Schulz, LendingTree
  • Frustrations with malfunctioning or confusing machines prompt some to skip payment.
    • [Quote | 03:21] “You know, you would see an 80 year old woman trying to read a four point font on an avocado trying to figure out how to scan it.” — Craig Leclair, Forrester
• Industry Response:
  • Retailers are investing in AI and computer vision to make self-checkouts more user-friendly, with hopes that better technology will discourage theft and improve the shopping experience.

---

3. ICE Raids and the Return of ‘Lockdown’ for Immigrant Families

Reported by Elizabeth Troval (06:05–09:41)

Personal Impact: The Case of 'Fidel'

• A Life Upended:
  • Fidel (name changed), a longtime LA resident and car wash worker, saw his hours evaporate after June ICE raids.
  • He’s lucky to get even an hour’s work a week—compared to steady shifts pre-raid and even the pandemic’s six-week unemployment. Now, it’s been six months.
  • He’s forced into “lockdown” at home, barely scraping by, eating just two small meals a day, and facing harsh trade-offs:
    • [Quote | 07:38] “You have to choose, live on the street or go without food.” — Fidel

Wider Community Effects

• Widespread Fear:
  • Hundreds of LA car wash workers have been detained (at least 350, per organizers).
  • Community organizations and food banks are shifting to a COVID-style emergency footing—delivering food to those fearful of leaving home.
• Organizations Pivot:
  • [Quote | 08:19] “Through Covid and through the raids, we’ve definitely grew into an area that we weren’t expecting to, which is like direct services, helping our communities connect to food banks, helping them connect with attorneys.” — Flor Melendrez, Clean Carwash LA
• Ripple Effects on Demand and Spending:
  • Many essential workers—Uber drivers, restaurant staff—are sheltering in place, echoing pandemic-era hardship.
  • [Quote | 09:27] “It’s keeping their money saved. It’s not spending, not purchasing a car. Because why would they purchase a car that they may have to leave behind?” — Elsa Flores, Texas SEIU President (via Nancy Marshall Genzer reporting)

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Fed Policy on Hold:
  • “We’re well positioned to wait and see.” — Jerome Powell (02:01)
• On Why People Steal at Self-Checkout:
  • “It’s much more likely to be a loaf of bread, a gallon of milk.” — Matt Schulz (03:01)
  • “You would see an 80 year old woman trying to read a four point font on an avocado...” — Craig Leclair (03:21)
• On ICE Raids and Daily Struggle:
  • “You have to choose, live on the street or go without food.” — Fidel (07:38)
  • “We had two car washes be raided... where they took one person that was a US citizen and another one where they took six workers.” — Flor Melendrez (07:56)
  • “It’s keeping their money saved. It’s not spending, not purchasing a car. Because why would they purchase a car that they may have to leave behind?” — Elsa Flores (09:27)

---

Key Timestamps

• Interest Rate Cut: 01:44–02:22
• Self-Checkout Theft Report: 02:22–03:51
• ICE Raids / Immigrant Hardship Story: 06:05–09:41

---

Episode Takeaways

• The economic recovery remains fragile, with uncertainty from government shutdowns hampering forward guidance from the Fed.
• Persistent high prices and difficult technology are fueling increased theft at self-checkout, presenting new challenges for retailers.
• For many immigrant families, especially in LA, a new wave of ICE raids has revived the shadow of pandemic-era lockdown: fear, unemployment, food insecurity, and broader economic stagnation—particularly among essential workers.

---

This episode captures how government policy, economic shifts, and technological change are tangibly shaping day-to-day realities for Americans, especially the most vulnerable.

Transcript

[Marketplace Host]

This Marketplace podcast is supported by Wealth Enhancement who ask do you have a blueprint for your money? Wealth Enhancement can help you build the right blueprint for investing, retirement, tax and more. With offices nationwide, there's an advisor who's ready to listen and craft a blueprint for your future. Find out [e-mail] build.

[GoFundMe Sponsor Voice]

Want to make a difference in your community, but not sure how? Go to GoFundMe.com right now and start a GoFundMe. Seriously. Your next fundraiser doesn't have to start in a school parking lot or a church basement. You can start a GoFundMe today in just minutes. Fundraise for yourself, a friend or family member, or an organization. All that matters is that you care about them. GoFundMe is the trusted place to fundraise for what you care about. With no pressure to hit your fundraising goal, but tons of tools to help you reach it, you can confidently start fundraising right now. Whether it's creative, local or critical, your cause matters. And there's a reason why GoFundMe is backed by millions and chosen by fundraisers everywhere. It works and it matters. GoFundMe helps you make a real difference. Start your GoFundMe today at gofundme.com that's gofundme.com G O F U N D me dot com this is a commercial message brought to you by GoFundMe.

[Sabri Benishour]

A new kind of lockdown from Marketplace I'm Sabri Benishore in for David Brancaccio. First, a divided Federal Reserve did indeed cut interest rates yesterday, but what it does at its next meeting in January is anybody's guess as Marketplaces. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports the Fed voted.

[Nancy Marshall Genzer]

9 to 3 to cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point. The central bank cited a softening labor market. The lower rates are meant to encourage businesses to borrow money and hire more workers. But Fed Chair Jerome Powell says the Fed's next move is not a foregone conclusion.

[Marketplace Host]

We're well positioned to wait and see.

[Daniel Ackerman]

How the economy evolves from here, powell says.

[Nancy Marshall Genzer]

Upcoming government data will factor into the Fed's coming decisions. That data is late and in some cases incomplete because of the government shutdown, though November jobs and inflation reports won't be issued until later this month. I'm Nancy Marshall genser for for Marketplace.

[Sabri Benishour]

27% of people admit to stealing at self checkout kiosks. That's according to a survey from LendingTree that is up from 15% just two years ago. Daniel Ackerman looked into why Self Checkout Theft is on the Rise yes, the.

[Daniel Ackerman]

Machines are finicky, but most Americans say they like self checkout, and not just.

[Craig Leclair]

Because they can walk through without paying.

[Daniel Ackerman]

Matt Schultz is chief consumer finance analyst with LendingTree.

[Craig Leclair]

They like it because it's fast. They like it because it's convenient.

[Daniel Ackerman]

For respondents who did admit to stealing, the top reason cited is that things are just unaffordable these days.

[Craig Leclair]

We're not talking about people going through the checkout counter with a diamond necklace and a Nintendo Switch. It's much more likely to be a loaf of bread, a gallon of milk.

[Daniel Ackerman]

Other consumers steal because they're fed up with user unfriendly machines, says Craig leclair, an automation analyst with Forrester.

[Marketplace Host]

You know you would see an 80 year old woman trying to read a four point font on an avocado trying to figure out how to scan it, he says.

[Daniel Ackerman]

Retailers are investing in improving those machines with AI. Better computer vision, for example, could mean no more fumbling for barcodes. Plus, leclair says they could one day have some semblance of a real conversation.

[Marketplace Host]

They'll be able to answer questions to the consumer as they're checking out. You know, did you find everything you need? You'll get a much better customer experience.

[Daniel Ackerman]

Retailers hope that will make shoppers less likely to steal, says leclair, even if price levels remain high. I'm Daniel Ackerman for Marketplace and the.

[Sabri Benishour]

Trump administration's gold card immigration program is now live. U.S. visas are available starting at a mere million dollars per person, 2 million for corporations. That's in addition to a Department of Homeland Security processing fee of just $15,000. That is the gold Card. A platinum card is coming soon. That one includes tax breaks for immigrants working.

[Superhuman Sponsor Voice]

This Marketplace podcast is supported by Superhuman. The world is buzzing with AI tools, but instead of making things easier, they've made your workflow overwhelming. You're stuck copying and pasting context, switching and juggling too many apps. There's now a better way that outsmarts the work chaos. Meet Superhuman, the AI productivity suite that gives you superpowers everywhere you work with Grammarly, mail and coda working together, you get proactive help across your workflow, from writing to preparing for meetings, presentations, and so much more. Think of Superhuman as your AI dream team, proactively helping you go from to do to done faster. Superhuman knows what you might need and offers suggestions. Whether you're drafting emails, creating documents or more. It guides you in the moment so you can sound like your best self and stay focused on what matters. There are even specialized agents designed to collaborate seamlessly and amplify your impact. Unleash your superhuman potential today. Learn [e-mail] podcast that's superhuman.com podcast.

[Craig Leclair]

This podcast is supported by Odoo. Some say Odoo business management software is like fertilizer for businesses because the simple, efficient software promotes growth. Others say Odoo is like a magic beanstalk because it scales with you and is magically affordable. And some describe Odoo's programs for manufacturing, accounting, and more as building blocks for creating a custom software suite. So Odoo is fertilizer Magic Beanstalk building blocks for business Odoo exactly what businesses need. Sign [e-mail] that's o d o o.com.

[Sabri Benishour]

The lockdowns of the COVID 19 pandemic are an unpleasant memory for a lot of people. But today there are people across the country experiencing a kind of lockdown. Again, they're afraid to leave their homes to work or to shop. We are talking about Latino immigrant families who are living under economic conditions that feel a lot like they did during the pandemic. Marketplace's Elizabeth Troval has this story in her occasional series about immigration policy changes and the American workforce called Help Not Wanted.

[Elizabeth Troval]

For a lot of people, the pandemic was an economic low point. For Fidel, the LA immigration raids are worse.

He's in his 50s and came to the US from Mexico a few decades ago. He asked not to use his real name due to immigration concerns. For years, he made a living cleaning cars, working six days, 48 hours a week.

Then, in June, immigration raids targeted car wash workers. Now, he says, it's much harder to get work if you don't have immigration papers. He's lucky if he gets an hour a week.

He was out of work during the pandemic about six weeks this time. It's been six months without a steady paycheck. He barely leaves the house and is scraping by to pay his rent, meds, food. He's eating just two small meals a day.

He says. You have to choose, live on the street or go without food. And Fidel isn't hopeful. His economy is getting better soon.

[Community Organizer / Interviewee]

Yesterday was definitely a horrible day.

[Elizabeth Troval]

Flor Melendrez is an organizer with Clean Carwash, a worker center in LA.

[Community Organizer / Interviewee]

We had two car washes be rated one where they took one person that was a US citizen and another one where they took six workers.

[Elizabeth Troval]

Her group has tracked at least 350 LA car wash workers who have been detained by ICE. She sees pandemic parallels People are afraid to leave their homes, and as a labor organization, they're pivoting again.

[Community Organizer / Interviewee]

I think now through Covid and through the rates, we have definitely grew into an area that we weren't expecting to, which is like Direct Services, helping our communities to connect to food banks, helping them connect with attorneys.

[Elizabeth Troval]

Food banks are pivoting, too. Mitzi Baum is CEO of Nourishing Hope, which operates in Chicago. Many of our neighbors stopped going to work for fear of just being pulled over due to the color of their skin. They were afraid to either come to one of our food pantries, get in their vehicle and do our online market. Nourishing Hope expanded its food delivery to nearly 200 additional families that are sheltering in place because of immigration raids. And Baum says it's a lot of the same people needing help as during the pandemic, like Uber drivers, restaurant workers, so many of those. The service industry has been impacted again. And Texas SEIU President Elsa Flores says it's not just that families are hurting. They're also not spending. It's keeping their money saved. It's not spending, not purchasing a car.

[Nancy Marshall Genzer]

Because why would they purchase a car.

[Elizabeth Troval]

That they may have to leave behind? She says raids create uncertainty, and uncertainty makes consumers cautious. I'm Elizabeth Trovall for Marketplace, and in.

[Sabri Benishour]

New York, I'm Sabri Benishour with the Marketplace Morning Report.

From APM American Public Media.

[Million Bazillion Narrator]

Sometimes kids ask questions that reveal just how much adults still need to learn, like can you explain what causes an economic bubble? And why are things so expensive at the airport? Or how much national debt might be too much? Fear not. Million Bazillion is back with a new season to help you and your kids become pros at understanding how money shapes the answers to all those questions and more. Listen to the latest season of Million Bazillion on your favorite podcast, Apple.