The U.S. Small Business administration is pulling up stakes in Chicago and 5 other cities citing their status as sanctuary cities.

The agency is tasked with offering resources to small business owners that claims the city's it's leaving, don't comply with federal immigration authorities.

However, Chicago does honor judicial warrants obtained by federal officials.

The SBA is now requiring that loan applicants verify their citizenship status.

Joining us to discuss more are Jessica walks first, the executive chef and owner of keyed up on in kitchen.

And Zoom clinical professor of economics at DePaul University and also small business owner Brian Thompson, thanks to you both for joining us.

I'm Brian, I want to start with you first.

In a statement, the U.S. Small Business Administration said, quote, the SBA is putting American citizens first by serving legal eligible business owners in partnership with cities that share this administration's commitment to secure borders in the coming months, the SBA will relocate its Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York City and Seattle regional offices out of sanctuary cities into more accessible communities that comply with federal immigration law.

Brian, what is your reaction to that messaging?

>> Sure.

I mean, the surface level, definitely sounds punitive.

I tend focus on the business perspective.

And think the business perspective is that person teaching classes businesses need to be strategic and what it means to be strategic is what you do.

Given the environment.

It's very clear that the environment has changed.

It's changing.

And so it is up to businesses to adjust and adapt to this environment that they're known >> What what economic impact to small businesses have on their local communities.

>> I mean, businesses are small.

Businesses are the fiber of the community.

You know, every big business was a small business at some point.

And so to say moving resources away from making it more difficult to access resources for small businesses is challenged.

And so think when we shop in small business and we we not only helping the businesses family directly, we're also helping the community.

I think that's really important.

>> Jessica, you own a catering company.

What has your experience been like getting started it was difficult.

I you know, we had the SBA, but I don't feel like I got enough help there.

And, you know, as I went through opening my business, I really felt like I was at a disadvantage because there's really not enough resources for small businesses, especially businesses of color.

I had to do a lot of figuring things out on my own and my greatest support came from my community and other small businesses.

And it was like a a community effort is what actually helped me launch >> this news is also coming at a time when a lot of people are are sort of using their own pocketbooks to make a statement removing their dollars from major mega corporations and being more intentional with who they're supporting.

How can people be more supportive of local businesses by supporting small businesses?

Obviously, I mean, >> I do my best to support small businesses.

I mean, a lot of the things I buy come from small business is I try to stay away from all the big retailers because it it.

I mean, what people don't see is small businesses are.

But Chicago was built on.

It's what I remember going up.

It's there's connection and communities and they're important and if they go away, what do we have It says it creates a big disconnect, but it also harms families and communities.

>> So Andersonville is one of many Chicago communities known for thriving small businesses, their local chamber of Commerce provided us a statement in reaction to the SBA leaving the city.

It reads, quote, the FDA's decision to withdraw from Chicago and other major metropolitan areas does not serve the best interests of small business owners.

It creates unnecessary barriers to accessing critical resources that help businesses start expand and thrive.

Linking the closure of these offices to Chicago status as a sanctuary city is unfathomable.

It goes on to it's that it's unfathomable and like immigrant owned businesses are an integral part of our local economy.

The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce remains dedicated to advocating for small businesses and ensuring they have the tools and support they need to succeed.

Brian Thompson gonna come back to you.

What alternative resources should local and state governments be expanding to fill the gap left by the SBA?

>> I think that you educate Jen really Some advice in perspective.

But I do think education very important because in terms delivering value to the community in union serving constituents and they businesses need to how things are changing, how environment turned to technology understanding what consumers want and better connecting to financing resources that are available.

And a lot of those voids are filled by small business and small business like community resources that the SBA.

And so I do think in the the day, I think it's going to create opportunity.

Someone's going to fill this void because how businesses create new opportunities but going Boyd's.

>> Jessica, same question to you.

What alternative resources would you like to see?

Could you from local and state economies?

I could be here all day with I mean, honestly, fair, the SBA was there.

But I mean, what I like I said, I found no resources when it came to helping look for funding or grants or anything to help me launch my business.

There were no resources.

There were no education resources and education is important like the programs I use came from my community through California, India, Manpower, Consortium, tricks or cultural center.

The American Indian Center.

Those were where I got.

Help trying to launch my business because I couldn't find programs to help And I think, you know, I've seen other people struggle with the same thing.

Like, where do we go?

Where the resources even identifying resources is hard.

Everything I did.

I did with the grace of God.

And with the help of my community.

And that's the only reason my business began to thrive is because I had a strong community behind me.

But I definitely think we need lots of resources and general information like I didn't even know what my son says I needed to start.

Where do you find that information?

Where do you go?

What what what do you need to be illegal business like?

We really need a lot of education behind starting a business and then we're helping helping fund business isn't supporting, you know, helping business become financially sound so they can thrive in the communities.

Brian Thompson, do we have an idea of the financial and economic impact of small businesses on Chicago where any their local community?

I know we talked about >> how important they are.

But what about that?

That impact?

>> I mean, the best way to think I was recently any interview on the radio one of the palace and use that term kind consumption and it really gets to the core idea our choices as consumers can.

So you choose to shop with a small business.

You're not only you hoping family's business grow, but you're helping them create jobs for community.

And, you know, if those jobs are not available, then it starts to affect the community and certainly impacts commercial real estate and then eventually vote.

And in France, the residential real estate.

And so I think absolutely paramount businesses have access to resources and that we consumers work to support these businesses.

>> All right.

That's where