Highlandtown, a growing East Baltimore neighborhood with a vibrant Latino and immigrant population, has experienced a sharp decline in foot traffic and business activity following increased ICE raids and detentions over the past six months. Business owners including Franchesca Nuñez (Franchesca's Empanadas Café), Carlos Urrutia (Elegance Barbershop), George Hindoyan (Geno's Menswear), and others report significantly reduced customer traffic and some customers leaving the area or country. Advocates said at least 16 immigrants were detained in raids at grocery stores, convenience stores, a Home Depot and other everyday locations, and Baltimore City Councilman Mark Parker confirmed ICE detentions in Highlandtown on June 8, 2025. The neighborhood, which had successfully revitalized its commercial corridor with a 9.16% vacancy rate by late 2025, now faces economic uncertainty as fear of immigration enforcement threatens the community development gains made over the past two decades.