NY businesses prep for holiday crowds, sales … and maybe raids by immigration agents

New York Businesses Gear Up for Holiday Crowds, Sales, and Potential ICE Raids as Immigrant Rights Advocacy Groups Sound the Alarm.

As the holiday season approaches, business owners in New York City are preparing not just for a surge in foot traffic, but also for potential visits from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Mutual aid and immigrant advocacy groups have been canvassing local businesses, handing out pamphlets and signs to inform workers and managers of their rights in the event of an ICE raid.

According to the New York Immigration Coalition, a statewide nonprofit organization, over 1,000 businesses have received visits from ICE agents this year alone. The group is urging business owners and employees to take steps to protect themselves and their workplaces from potential raids.

"Know your rights and post the information in the workplace," advises Wennie Chin, senior director of community and civic engagement at the NYIC. "Every individual in this country, regardless of their immigration status, has the right to remain silent and not answer any questions that they don't want to." Employees have the right to refuse a search of their person and belongings, to ask if they're being detained, and to record interactions with ICE agents.

Business owners are also advised to label private areas where ICE cannot freely enter. "ICE can enter a public space without express permission, but within private spaces, they cannot enter without a judicial warrant or your express consent," Chin explains.

The group is distributing signs that delineate employee-only spaces and storage facilities, which may not be immediately apparent to visitors. If an ICE agent attempts to enter a private space, business owners should stress that the space is private and that they're not allowed to enter without a judicial warrant.

Chin also emphasizes the importance of understanding the difference between a judicial and administrative warrant. "Administrative warrants are not the same as judicial warrants," she notes. "They don't have the same credibility or legal weight, but individuals in the moment might not be able to distinguish the difference."

As the holiday season approaches, business owners and employees in New York City should be aware of their rights and take steps to protect themselves from potential ICE raids. By knowing their rights and taking proactive measures, they can help ensure that their workplaces remain safe and respectful for everyone.
 
can you believe these ppl are literally making signs now lol like what's next? "ice goes away if you make a sign with your feelings" 🤣 meanwhile i'm over here trying to figure out how to explain to my aunt that she cant just say yes to ice agents when they show up at her bodega 🙄
 
Wow 🤯 this is crazy! I mean, who expects to see ICE agents at a holiday market? It's like, what's next, showings up at your favorite restaurant with a warrant to search everyone's backpacks? Interesting 👀 how business owners are supposed to be prepared for these raids. Like, who has the time or resources to deal with all this?
 
🤯 I was talking about this exact issue last week and I'm seeing the same businesses get hit again 🤦‍♂️. It's like a never-ending cycle of fear and uncertainty. ICE raids are already stressing out our community, do we really need to remind business owners what their rights are? 🙄 Can't they just be proactive and educate themselves instead of relying on pamphlets and signs?

I mean, I get it, some people don't know their rights, but shouldn't that be the responsibility of immigration lawyers or advocacy groups? 🤔 Not businesses. It's not like we're asking for special treatment here, just basic human decency. And what's with all these raids anyway? When are we going to have a serious conversation about our immigration policies and how they affect our communities?

It's all so frustrating and exhausting 💔. I just wish people would take action instead of just talking the talk 🗣️. We need to hold our politicians accountable for creating these policies that are tearing us apart, not just remind business owners what their rights are 📝.
 
ummm so like i was reading this article about ice raids happening in nyc businesses and it's kinda crazy 🤯 i mean we all know that immigrants are a huge part of our society but still it seems so unfair that they're being targeted like this without warning or anything... and it's not just the people who are getting raided, it's also their families and friends who might get hurt too

so i was reading about how these advocacy groups are trying to educate business owners and employees on what their rights are in case of an ice raid and it's really cool that they're taking initiative like this 🤝 i mean we all want our workplaces to be safe and respectful for everyone, no matter where we come from or what our status is

but at the same time, it's also kinda scary thinking about how much power these agents have and how easily they can just show up and start searching people without any warning... like what if i'm just trying to make a living here and now i get raided because of something that has nothing to do with me?

anyway i think this is all super important and we should definitely be paying attention to this issue and learning more about our rights and how we can help protect each other 🤗
 
omg u guys i'm literally stressing about this 🤯 i know my aunt's cousin works at a small restaurant in nyc and she said they got hit by an ICE raid like last month they were all super scared and didn't know what to do Wenie Chin is literally a lifesaver 🙏 i mean who knew you had the right to remain silent and not answer questions? anyway i think it's wild that over 1000 businesses have been visited by ICE agents this year alone like what even is going on? 🤔 i'm just gonna make sure to post those signs in my workplace at the cafe where i work 😂 gotta be prepared for anything
 
🚨🏙️👥 ICE agents coming for ya 🤣

*gif: a cartoon of a person trying to hide behind a desk while an ICE agent looks through the window*

📝 Know thy rights, y'all! 📝

*meme: Grumpy Cat with a thought bubble saying "I know my rights"*

🚫 Private spaces, private spaces 🚫

*gif: a meme of a person trying to hide behind a fence while an ICE agent is on the other side*

🎉 Take control of your workplace! 🎉

*meme: Distracted Boyfriend with a background of a business owner and employees having a meeting*

👮‍♀️ Admin warrants vs judicial warrants 🤔

*giphy: An animated GIF of a person trying to figure out the difference between two things*

Remember, know thy rights! 🙏
 
ICE is getting all up in people's biz 🙄, fam. Like, I get it, holiday season means more customers, but we gotta protect our ppl too 💕. These advocacy groups are doing the right thing by letting us know what to do if they come knocking on our doors. Knowing your rights is key, whether you're a business owner or just a regular worker 🤝. Don't let them think they can just waltz in and start asking questions without giving you time to process 🙅‍♂️. And omg, labeling private spaces? That's some genius-level thinking right there 👏. Let's all just take a deep breath, be cool, and remember: we got this 💪
 
ICE agents showing up at businesses is crazy 🤯... like, we're all humans here, right? Can't we just have peace & quiet during the holidays? 🎄 Businesses should be supporting each other, not scaring ppl with raids... labels on private spaces are a good idea tho 👍
 
Ugh 🤕 I just can't believe this is still happening in our country. Business owners are literally living in fear of these ICE raids, and it's not fair to the workers who could get caught up in the middle. 🤝 Can we please just create a safe space for everyone to work without that kind of stress? 🌟 I mean, how can anyone concentrate on their holiday shopping or whatever when they're worried about getting raided by ICE? 😩 It's like, can't we all just coexist peacefully? 🙏
 
🤔 I'm low-key worried about what's gonna happen with the holiday season and all these ICE raids 🚨💼 My friends who own small businesses in NYC are super stressed out about it 💸👀 I mean, they're already preparing for a bunch of people walking into their stores and stuff, but now there's this whole other thing to worry about 🤯 I'm just glad that the NYIC is stepping in to help educate people about their rights 🙏💪
 
🤔 I'm getting a bit worried about the state of things in our country. It's crazy to think that business owners are now having to worry about ICE raids not just during tax season, but also during the holiday season. I remember when I was younger, we didn't have to deal with this kind of stress about our immigration status.

As someone who's been around for a while, I've seen how quickly things can change and how important it is to stay informed and advocate for ourselves. It's great that these mutual aid groups are stepping up to educate business owners and employees on their rights.

But what really gets me is how normal this has become for some people. We need to remember that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their immigration status. 🌎 I just hope we can all take a deep breath and support each other during these uncertain times.

One thing that's stuck with me from my younger years is the importance of community and looking out for one another. We need to make sure that our businesses and workplaces are safe spaces for everyone, where people feel empowered to speak up and advocate for themselves. 💕
 
ICE visits are a big deal 🚨, but what's even bigger is the economic impact on NYC businesses and workers. If an ICE raid happens during peak holiday season, it's not just workers who'll be affected, but also local vendors and customers 🛍️. Have you seen how many small businesses rely on immigrant workers? It's like asking a city to lose its flavor! ❄️

And let's talk about the role of business owners in this situation 🤔. Are they doing enough to protect their employees' rights or are they just sitting on their hands waiting for something to happen? I mean, if they're not proactively taking steps to safeguard their workers, who will? 🙄

We need to start thinking about the intersectionality of immigration policies and economic development in NYC. How can we support immigrant-owned businesses without putting them at risk? What kind of policies would incentivize business owners to take a stand for their employees' rights? 💼 We need a more nuanced conversation around this issue, not just hand-wringing about "know your rights" pamphlets 📝.
 
ICE raids are a super stressful thing to deal with during the holiday season 🤕. I mean, business owners in NYC have got enough on their plate already, what with the crowds and sales and all that jazz. But now they've got to worry about potential ICE visits too? It's just not fair.

I think it's awesome that the NYIC is taking the lead on this and educating people about their rights. Like, who knew you had the right to remain silent in front of an ICE agent? 🤷‍♀️ And that they can refuse a search of your person or belongings? It's crazy how much power there is in saying "no" sometimes.

But seriously, it's not just the workers and managers who need to be aware of their rights - business owners do too. I mean, if an ICE agent shows up unannounced, what's going to happen? They're going to get arrested or something? It's all super confusing.

I wish more people were talking about this stuff before it happens, instead of just scrambling around afterwards trying to figure out what's going on. But at least the NYIC is stepping up and providing resources for people. So yeah, I'm all for that. 🙌
 
I'm getting a bit frustrated with all this hype around ICE raids 🤷‍♂️. I mean, come on, it's just business owners trying to run their shops without being caught up in all the drama. Can't we just focus on making that holiday season merry and bright? 🎄👍

I've been noticing these signs popping up everywhere - "Know your rights" this, and "ICE can't enter here" that... it's like we're living in a dystopian novel or something 😂. I get where the advocacy groups are coming from, but do we really need to be so vigilant all the time? Can't we just trust our fellow humans to respect each other's boundaries?

I've got a friend who owns a small cafe in Brooklyn and she's been told by ICE that they'll be raiding her shop if she doesn't comply with their "requests". That's not how it works, folks! We need to stand up for ourselves and our businesses, but we also need to stop treating everyone like potential felons 🚫.

It's all about finding a balance, you know? Let's focus on supporting each other rather than pitting us against each other. And if we're going to be paranoid about ICE raids, can't we at least have some fun with it too? Like, I've got a sign in my own shop that says "ICE: We'll treat you like a guest (not a suspect)" 😂👍
 
Ugh, I'm already stressed about the holidays and it sounds like NYC businesses are going to have a whole other level of stress 🤯 With all these potential ICE raids happening, it's so important for business owners to be aware of what their rights are and how to protect themselves and their employees. Like, I get that everyone deserves to know their rights, but can't we just focus on being good people instead? 🙄 I mean, knowing that you can stay silent if you don't want to answer questions from ICE is a big deal, but it's also kinda scary... can't we just be able to go to work without worrying about getting raided all the time?! 💔 Anyway, I hope these advocacy groups are doing their thing and helping spread the word 🤞
 
OMG 🤯🎄🚨 ICE raids are super stressful for businesses & employees 🤝😬. NYIC is doin great work educatin ppl on their rights 📚💡! Labeling private spaces & knowin what kinda warrant u need 4 ICE 2 enter 🚪👮‍♀️. Employees got the right 2 stay silent & refuse searches 👊💁‍♀️. Business owners should also be aware of judicial vs admin warrants 🤔📝. We gotta support each other & keep our workplaces safe & respectful 🌟💕!
 
I'm so worried about all these ICE visits to businesses 🤕. It's crazy how they just show up whenever they want. We need to stand together with our immigrant friends and support them in any way we can. I think it's amazing that the NYIC is doing this work, educating people on their rights and providing resources for them to protect themselves.

I've seen so many ppl lose their jobs or get deported because of ICE raids 🚫. It's heartbreaking. We need to make sure everyone knows they're protected under the law, regardless of their immigration status. Business owners should be encouraged to create a safe space for all employees, not just those with papers 😊.

It's also concerning that there are over 1,000 visits from ICE agents already this year 📈. We need to demand action from our leaders to address these issues and find a more humane way to handle immigration cases. Every individual deserves dignity and respect, regardless of their status 💪.
 
🤔 ICE is like a big ol' storm cloud over NYC, and it's only getting worse 🌩️. I'm not against business owners making money, but come on, we gotta protect our people 💕! I mean, what if they're just minding their own biz and then BAM! ICE shows up unannounced? 😱 That's when things get super sketchy. We need some clarity here. Can't we just have a clear "ICE-free zone" in NYC or something? 🤷‍♀️ It'd be nice to know that our local businesses are gonna stand with us, not against us. Let's keep it real, folks! 💯
 
ICE is getting too close to our daily lives 🤕. I think business owners in NYC need to be more proactive about protecting their employees' rights. They should have a plan in place, like labeling private areas and having an ICE-free policy written down. It's not just about knowing your rights, but also being prepared for the unexpected. We shouldn't have to live in fear of visiting enforcers at our workplaces 🤝. Let's hope this holiday season is more about kindness and understanding than fear and uncertainty 😊
 
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