Chicago Latinos fund buyouts for street vendors amid federal raids, offering financial aid and solidarity.

In response to a federal immigration crackdown that led to over 3,200 arrests in Chicago, residents in Latino neighborhoods have launched grassroots "buy out" efforts to support street vendors fearful of detention. Cyclists and community members purchase all of a vendor’s goods in one transaction, enabling them to go home safely while providing financial support. Organized by groups like Cycling x Solidarity and the Street Vendors Association of Chicago, these efforts include food deliveries to shelters and restaurant crawls to boost struggling businesses. Vendors, some of whom have been detained, have expressed deep gratitude, calling the support life-saving. A GoFundMe campaign aims to raise $300,000 in aid. Despite no response from federal agencies, the community continues to rally, turning food and solidarity into acts of resilience.