How tariffs and immigration hit San Antonio's Silk Road

• While President Trump's immigration enforcement is hampering some small business activity nationwide, one advocate for immigrant-run businesses says shops in San Antonio are persevering in the face of changes.

The latest: The U.S. Supreme Court struck down many of Trump's tariffs on Friday, though the impacts of tariffs won't immediately disappear. The administration moved swiftly to replace the tariffs.

State of play: Neighborhoods around the Medical Center near northwest San Antonio have long been home to residents with Middle Eastern, North African and Asian heritage. In 2024, the city named a stretch of Wurzbach Road the Silk Road Cultural Heritage District.

• The streets are dotted with markets that provide the kind of food ingredients you won't always find at the typical H-E-B.

The big picture: Trump has blocked millions of immigrants from entry, tightened rules that penalize people who might need government assistance, and revoked protections for immigrants already here.

• Texas officials have followed suit. Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating what he says could be abuse of the H-1B visa program by businesses, and Gov. Greg Abbott froze new H-1B visa petitions from public agencies. (H-1B allows employers to hire foreign professionals for specialized jobs.)

What they're saying: "I think that there is a heightened sense of fear in this community just as communities across the nation are experiencing, including with small business owners," Nadia Mavrakis, co-executive director of the nonprofit Culturingua, tells Axios.

• "Despite concerns, people still want to showcase their community, their cultural heritage."
• Culturingua was established in 2018 to preserve and promote the culture of the Silk Road district.

By the numbers: 24% of the metro area's business owners are immigrants —despite making up just 13% of the population, per a January report from the American Immigration Council commissioned by the city.

Zoom in: Harjeet Ghuman, owner of the Himalayan Bazar since 2013, tells Axios that customers have purchased less over the last year, which he attributes to higher store prices due to tariffs and fear among some regulars related to immigration enforcement.

• Still, "they have to eat, they have to come out," he says. "But mostly people are very cautious."

Ali Baba International Food Market owner Ashraf Nahil tells Axios that he's also seen a decline in sales, attributing it to higher prices due to tariffs. Nahil says immigration enforcement isn't affecting foot traffic.

• The store has remained busy in recent months, Nahil says. People have stocked up on food before freezing weather and ahead of Ramadan, the ongoing month of fasting on the Islamic calendar.

What's next: Culturingua is hosting the Silk Road District Festival on March 28, 11am-3pm.

• "People are still showing up in community, coming together to celebrate the cultural contributions of our immigrant small business owners," Mavrakis says.