Many Immigrants Across the U.S. Withdraw Labor and Spending Just as They Did in the May 2006 Protests to Make Their Voices Heard

Immigrants across the United States are preparing to make their absence felt.  

On February 3, “Un Día Sin Inmigrantes” or “A Day Without Immigrants”, calls for a nationwide work stoppage, urging participants to stay home from their jobs, keep children out of school, and halt all purchases. The goal is clear: To expose the economic weight of immigrant labor and spending power in a country that continues to depend on them while enforcing policies that marginalize them. 

The initiative has sparked debate within the Latino community. Some argue that a single day is not enough and that a longer strike would send a stronger message. Others hesitate, fearing the financial consequences or even job loss. In some workplaces, employees have already been warned of repercussions. There is also a push to reschedule the protest to a more commercially significant date, such as Valentine’s Day, to maximize its economic impact. 

Advocacy groups echo the call, emphasizing that immigrants should not have to endure threats, deportations, and economic exclusion while continuing to power essential industries. 

Remembering ‘A Day Without Immigrants’ in 2006

The strategy draws a parallel to the historic protests of May 1, 2006, when millions of immigrants and their allies marched through major U.S. cities in a nationwide strike known as “A Day Without an Immigrant” or “La Gran Marcha.”  

Those demonstrations were a response to the Sensenbrenner Bill, a piece of legislation that sought to criminalize undocumented immigrants and anyone assisting them. The scale of the protest was unprecedented — businesses shuttered, industries stalled, and lawmakers were forced to acknowledge the role of immigrant workers. 

The political landscape has changed, but the core issue remains. In 2006, the threat was federal legislation targeting undocumented immigrants.  

Today, it is a climate of detentions, deportations, and relentless crackdowns that keep families in fear. The demand for recognition and fair treatment has not wavered, but the question lingers — will a single day of inaction be enough to force the U.S. to listen?