How One Family’s Story Embodies Latino Resilience at the Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet

By Javian Grant
Our Weekly News

SANTA FE SPRINGS — When Jesse Herrera first rolled his tiny churro cart into the Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet 27 years ago, he wasn’t just selling fried dough and cinnamon sugar — he was chasing a dream. “When I started here, I was selling churros out of a little cart,” he recalled, leaning on the counter of his now-bustling family booth. “It was really good for about ten years. Then the economy started shifting, and times got harder. But we stuck with it.”

Herrera’s story mirrors that of countless Latino families who have built their livelihoods, one sale at a time, at this iconic marketplace. Over nearly three decades, his “mom and pop” stand has grown into a family legacy. His son, Jesse Jr., now owns a Michoacana ice cream shop right in the heart of the Swap Meet. “Kids today want to do their own thing — computers, robotics — they don’t want the hard, manual work,” Herrera said with a proud smile. “But my kids are interested in the business. They’re doing really, really well. That means everything to me.”

The Day Fear Went Viral

On June 14, that legacy, and those of hundreds of other families, faced a new kind of threat. Around 4 p.m., U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrived at the Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet. But by then, the market had already closed. Vendors were mostly gone.

Within hours, though, social media told a different story: videos claiming dozens of arrests, rumors of a massive raid in broad daylight, and false accusations that management had “let ICE in.”

The truth, which was later confirmed later by federal officials and even a USC law professor interviewed by the Los Angeles Times, was far less dramatic — only two individuals were detained, both customers leaving the property. Staff had no legal authority to stop the agents from entering public areas, and no cooperation occurred.

But the damage was done. Fear spread faster than facts ever could. “We’ve been through economic downturns, even the pandemic,” Herrera said. “But this is different. Customers are just not showing up. Fear has taken over, and it’s hitting every vendor hard.”

Resilience as a Way of Life

Despite the setbacks, Herrera refuses to give in to despair. “We’ve survived recessions, we survived COVID,” he said. “We’ll survive this, too.”

He still opens his booth every Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday, greeting regulars with a warm smile and a reminder that the Swap Meet’s heartbeat — its people — never stopped. “It’s family here,” he said. “We’ve always taken care of each other.”

For Herrera, the sweet aroma of churros in the air isn’t just nostalgia — it’s proof that resilience runs deep in the Latino spirit. Each weekend, as music drifts from the stage and children line up for ice cream, the truth speaks louder than any rumor: the Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet is alive, enduring, and still very much home.

Culture, Community, and Courage

The Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet has always been more than a marketplace. For many, it’s a weekend ritual — where families gather for shopping, live music, food, and
cold micheladas. It’s where generations have celebrated milestones, shared meals, and supported one another through lean times.

Herrera points to the vendors around him — “Without your support,” he said, “it will never be the same. For years, this has been part of our culture, part of what people around here do. Come here, have a good time. I’d hate to see that in jeopardy.”

In the months since June, management and local advocates have worked tirelessly to steady the ground beneath the vendors. The Hispanic Outreach Taskforce helped
organize Know Your Rights trainings for families, while bilingual posters and wallet-sized legal “red cards” now hang in booths and circulate among customers. Vendor fees
were reduced to help ease the strain.

A new text alert system has been tested to combat misinformation — a practical step toward restoring confidence in an age where rumors travel faster than the truth.
Resilience as a Way of Life

Despite the setbacks, Herrera refuses to give in to despair. “We’ve survived recessions, we survived COVID,” he said. “We’ll survive this, too.”

He still opens his booth every Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday, greeting regulars with a warm smile and a reminder that the Swap Meet’s heartbeat — its people — never
stopped. “It’s family here,” he said. “We’ve always taken care of each other.”

For Herrera, the sweet aroma of churros in the air isn’t just nostalgia — it’s proof that resilience runs deep in the Latino spirit. Each weekend, as music drifts from the stage
and children line up for ice cream, the truth speaks louder than any rumor: the Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet is alive, enduring, and still very much home.

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