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LA councilmen move to protect street vendors in parks
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Oct 12, 2017
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LA councilmen move to protect street vendors in parks
If a street vendor in LA is undocumented and selling in a public park, a city-issued fine could alert immigration agents.
Delfino Flores unloads his cart from a pickup truck on Tuesday morning, Nov. 11, 2014.
Delfino Flores unloads his cart from a pickup truck on Tuesday morning, Nov. 11, 2014.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)

If a street vendor in LA is undocumented and selling in a public park, a city-issued fine could alert immigration agents.

Street vendors are part of the fabric of LA, selling everything from bacon-wrapped hot dogs to ice cream. It's perfectly legal here, except in public parks. 

That means vendors in America illegally who violates the rule could face criminal charges that get the attention of immigration authorities. Then they could be deported.

But this week, members of the LA City Council moved to protect these vendors, including Councilman Mitch O'Farrell who talked with Take Two.

Hear how his motion, if passed, could shield vendors who are undocumented from immigration agents. Use the blue audio player above.