SEBRING - Several orange groves were missing workers and a couple of local restaurants were closed Monday in observance of “Day Without An Immigrant,” a national one-day protest by immigrants against crackdowns on undocumented residents.

While there were no protests in Highlands and Hardee County, many immigrants did observe the boycott.

According to Ray Royce, executive director of the Highlands County Citrus Growers Association, most immigrant workers in local citrus businesses did not show up for work.

Taqueria Merlo and Tacoos Taqueria and Tortilleria, eateries in Avon Park, were closed. Both businesses displayed signs that said they would not be open on Monday.

Some of the employees at Redlands Christian Migrant Association had permission to take the day off, according to Hilaria Cuevas, area coordinator for the association in Hardee County and Lake Placid. The association allowed employees to skip work if there were enough staffers available to keep operations running.

—Sally Villarreal

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