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A day in a life without immigrants

Anti-immigrant sentiment long predates Trump, and spreads far beyond the US.

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Protesters marching in Los Angeles on June 10.

Protesters marching in Los Angeles on June 10.

PHOTO: PHILIP CHEUNG/NYTIMES

John Authers

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In the 2004 movie Un Dia Sin Mexicanos (A Day Without A Mexican), Californians awake to discover that all the Latinos among them have mysteriously disappeared. The state swiftly descends into anarchy.

Streets are uncleaned, fruit rots on trees, while drug hustlers start peddling vegetables as they fall into short supply. Middle class people who were bullying their Hispanic maids and janitors hours earlier buckle under the back-breaking work they now have to do. Schools close. Riots break out as baseball games are cancelled (basketball continues as normal). 

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