Portland's Acclaimed Mexican Restaurant Blames Trump Immigration Crackdown for Closure
The owners of an acclaimed Mexican restaurant in Portland have announced its permanent closure next month, directly blaming Donald Trump's immigration policies and enforcement actions for creating an unsustainable business environment.
República, which has operated for five years in the city's Pearl District, will shut its doors permanently on February 21, according to co-owners Angel Medina and Olivia Bartruff. In a detailed announcement, they cited the dramatic business decline and safety concerns for staff following Trump's return to office as primary reasons for the closure.
Business Collapse Following Political Shift
Medina revealed that reservations "drastically dropped" and the restaurant "lost over 30% of our business almost overnight" after President Trump took office last year. Before the administration change, República averaged between 44 and 48 covers per night, but recently served only 100 covers across an entire week.
"There is no clear horizon ahead - not under the current conditions, not with the realities we're facing," the owners wrote in their closure announcement. "This decision wasn't made lightly, and it certainly wasn't made suddenly. We are heartbroken. We are exhausted. And we are choosing truth over denial."
Safety Concerns and Industry Under Pressure
The restaurant owner expressed particular concern about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities, mentioning raids more than 1,700 miles away in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that left him fearing for his staff's safety.
"When the safety of my staff - people who built this place with their hands and their memories - could no longer be assumed, when their dignity and security were treated as negotiable, silence stopped being an option," Medina stated.
He described the food service industry as being "under attack" and warned that increased federal enforcement represents a "rehearsal" for similar campaigns in other cities, including Portland.
From Hospitality to Hostility
Medina articulated how the restaurant environment has fundamentally changed under current policies. "A table is a promise. You sit down believing - even if only for an hour - that nothing bad will happen to you there," he wrote. "And when hospitality becomes reconnaissance, the room changes. Refuge becomes risk. Livelihood becomes calculation."
The co-owner drew stark historical parallels, stating: "In a really end-of-the-world way, it goes back to Nazi Paris in the 1940s. Having to serve officers? F*** that."
Failed Attempts at Survival
The restaurant attempted to weather the storm by tightening operations after business declined last March, but Medina described this as trying to "fix a systemic wound with a bandage." He acknowledged that this "mistake" ultimately cost more than the business could recover.
"Tourism disappeared. Habits shifted. Costs rose - not just food costs, but the human cost of staying in the game," Medina explained, highlighting the multifaceted challenges facing the hospitality sector.
Community Impact and Legacy
In a direct statement to Portland, Medina emphasized the cultural contribution of restaurant workers: "The Mexican cuisine you celebrate today did not arrive by accident. It exists because of the labor, memory, and courage of the people in this kitchen."
Despite República's closure, two related establishments - Lilia Comedor and Comala, operated by former República chef Juan Gomez under the same hospitality group - will continue operating.
Industry Recognition and Final Days
The restaurant earned significant acclaim during its five-year run, receiving Restaurant of the Year honors in 2021 and being named "Portland's best Mexican restaurant" by Bon Appétit magazine in 2022, which also featured it among America's Best New Restaurants.
During its final weeks, República will revisit some of Portland's beloved traditional dishes before permanently closing. The owners concluded their announcement with a powerful statement about priorities: "Some things are more important than staying open. Some things are more important than revenue. And some things are more important than service. Dignity is one of them."
