Before dawn on a recent Thursday, the lights of landscaping, construction and delivery trucks brightened the darkness outside two delis on Union Avenue in the mostly Latino Nassau community of New Cassel. Inside, customers on their way to paint Long Islanders' homes or cut their lawns stood before steaming trays of food and ordered coffee and tamales. Some carried out foam containers of fried plantains and grilled chicken to eat later for lunch.

At Placita Deli, employee Yesenia González was busy — but not nearly as busy as this time last year. Then, there were no empty stools and chairs like there were that morning.

"It was full," González said in Spanish. "Not anymore."

Owner José Ortega said business at Placita has plummeted 40% since President Donald Trump took office in January

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