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

New York Business Owners Prepare for Holiday Season Amid Immigration Raids Fears

As the holiday season approaches, business owners in New York City are bracing themselves for a surge in customers. However, they're also worried about another kind of crowd: immigration agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Trump administration has renewed its promises to send more ICE officers to New York City, sending fear among local businesses and advocacy groups.

Mutual aid organizations and immigrant advocacy groups have been canvassing local businesses, handing out pamphlets and signs that inform workers and managers of their rights if ICE shows up. "Know your rights and post the information in the workplace" is the mantra being promoted by these organizations, led by the New York Immigration Coalition.

The key message from Wennie Chin, NYIC's senior director of community and civic engagement, is clear: every individual in this country has certain rights, regardless of their immigration status. These rights include the right to remain silent, not answer questions without a warrant, refuse a search of your person or belongings, and understand why you're being detained.

Business owners are advised to label private areas within their workplaces where ICE cannot freely enter, such as kitchen areas or break rooms, without express consent. These areas are considered private spaces, just like the back offices or storage facilities in a supermarket.

But what's crucial is understanding the difference between judicial and administrative warrants. The former requires a court judgment and has more weight, while the latter bears only the signature of a Department of Homeland Security officer and lacks credibility.

If ICE shows up at your workplace, it's essential to stay calm and record the interaction if you feel safe doing so. Remember that the space is private, and they're not allowed to enter without a judicial warrant. Record everything, including the address, name of the individual, and date on the warrant.

Businesses are also advised to proactively delineate their private spaces with signs or curtains, making it clear where ICE cannot freely enter. The goal is to protect the workspace and ensure that employees understand their rights in case of an ICE visit.

With more immigration enforcement actions taking place across the country, New York City businesses are better off being prepared than caught off guard. As Chin emphasizes, "These rights are guaranteed in the Constitution," and everyone deserves to know them.

man i feel bad for these business owners they're already dealing with holiday rush and now this ice stuff is a huge concern what if some innocent worker gets mistaken for an immigration suspect? anyway i think its cool that mutual aid orgs are stepping up to help people know their rights and i love wenie chin's message that everyone deserves to know their constitutional rights regardless of immigration status maybe we can also raise awareness about this issue more widely in the community so people dont feel scared or anxious when ice shows up at their workplace

OMG, can u even imagine walkin into ur workplace one day & ICE agents show up? It's like, totally stressful! But here's the thing: these business owners & mutual aid orgs r doin it right by spreadin the word about immigration rights & how 2 protect themselves. It's all about stayin calm & knowin ur rights, even if u are undocumented. And btw, have u seen those signs they're puttin up in workplaces? "Know yer rights" is like, the ultimate holiday gift to urself! Let's spread some love & support 4 these brave business owners & immigrant advocates

can u believe this? like, i get it, us politics is crazy rn... but shouldn't our businesses just be able to focus on making money & serving ppl without being all worried about ICE & gov't drama? anyway, i think its super cool that mutual aid orgs are stepping in to educate ppl about their rights especially the part about labeling private areas - thats a sick life hack right there

I remember when people could walk around without being stopped by ICE agents all the time... it's crazy how much has changed. They're trying to label private areas in workplaces with signs that say "private" or something, like that's gonna protect people from getting caught up in some raid. Newsflash: it won't. What we need is more support for these mutual aid organizations and immigrant advocacy groups, not just some pamphlets handed out by volunteers...

ICE agents showing up at your workplace? Sounds like a Christmas party! ‍ Just kidding, sort of. But seriously, who wouldn't want to record their interaction with immigration agents? It's like having a built-in police drama in the break room . On a more serious note, it's awesome that mutual aid organizations are handing out pamphlets and signs to help people know their rights. I mean, who doesn't love a good pamphlet, right? Maybe they should also have some info on how to get a good deal on holiday gifts for the boss .

I'm not convinced that business owners really need a pamphlet telling them what their rights are... I mean, come on, they're adults! But hey, if it's gonna make people feel better about having ICE showing up at their doorstep, then yay for pamphlets and signs. The thing is, though, where did we even get the idea that ICE was just gonna start showing up in stores and restaurants willy-nilly? I didn't see any sources on that one...

I'm literally low-key worried about my friends who own small businesses in NYC . These immigration raids are giving me anxiety, especially with the holiday rush coming up . Can you imagine having to deal with ICE while trying to keep your business running smoothly? It's not just about being 'informed', it's about having a plan in place #NYCBusinesses #ImmigrationReformNow #KnowYourRights

Ugh, what a great way to kick off the holiday season - with immigration raids . I mean, who needs a stress-free shopping experience when you can have ICE showing up at your workplace and freaking out employees? The fact that business owners are being asked to label private areas and post rights information is just a band-aid on a much bigger problem - the whole system is broken .

And what's with the emphasis on judicial vs administrative warrants? It's not like most people know the difference, and it's not like having ICE show up at your workplace is going to make you feel confident in your understanding of the law . Can't we just focus on making sure everyone has access to healthcare and education instead of worrying about paperwork and laws?

ICE agents show up at your workplace? Just record everything Don't panic, know your rights & stay calm Private spaces aren't just for show! Label 'em clearly with signs or curtains

people r worried abt ice agents comin thru their workplaces this holiday season lol i mean its def not ideal but like theyre tellin us what 2 do & its all about stayin calm n protectin ur rights

I'm seeing a lot of business owners stressing out about potential ICE raids . Like, I get it, but it's also kinda convenient that they're doing these workshops and handing out pamphlets - who hasn't heard of their rights before? On the other hand, I do think it's a good idea for them to label those private areas in the workplace, you know, just in case. And honestly, if they can't even tell the difference between judicial and administrative warrants, maybe they should be looking into getting some business management training... or just hiring someone who actually knows what's going on

so the holiday season is coming up but people who run small businesses in new york city are super worried about ice agents showing up at their workplaces... i think it's pretty messed up that this has to be a thing, like shouldn't we all feel safe in our own country? anyway, these organizations are doing some great work by educating people on what their rights actually are and how to protect themselves. it's crazy that they have to do this, but at the same time, it's good that there are people advocating for those who might not know any better.

the thing is, understanding the difference between judicial and administrative warrants is kinda key here... so basically, a judicial warrant is like a real deal court order and you can't just ignore it, while an admin warrant is more of a "hey, i'm ice agent, take what i want" kind of deal. anyway, if ice shows up at your workplace, just stay calm and try not to answer any questions without a lawyer present... and for goodness sake, record everything! also, businesses should really start labeling those private areas where ice can't freely enter, like kitchen areas or whatever. it's all about being prepared and knowing your rights, you know?

I'm really worried about what's going on with ICE raids in NYC. I get that they have a job to do, but can't we just make sure everyone knows their rights instead of freaking out business owners? It's not fair to the people who are already scared and stressed out about it. I mean, how hard is it to sign up for "Know Your Rights" workshops or training sessions on ICE protocols? Can't we all just coexist peacefully?

I'm actually inspired by these mutual aid organizations and immigrant advocacy groups, they're doing some amazing work. We need more people like them who are willing to stand up for the rights of marginalized communities. It's not just about the business owners, it's about the workers, the families, and the community as a whole.

We should be preparing ourselves for an inclusive and equitable society where everyone feels safe and supported. Not just tolerating immigration enforcement actions that can have such devastating effects on people's lives. We need systemic change, not just temporary fixes or workarounds.

I'm getting worried about these mass ICE raids . It's like, I get it, security is important, but can't we find a way to balance that with respecting people's basic human rights? I mean, what's next, showing up at every small business and asking if they're hiding anyone? It's just not right.

And don't even get me started on the whole "Know your rights" thing. Like, yeah, we get it, but can't we just live our lives without having to worry about ICE showing up at our workplaces all the time? It's stressful enough dealing with holiday crowds and whatnot, we don't need this added anxiety.

But you know who's not worried? The people who are getting swept up in these raids. They're the ones who deserve our support and solidarity . We need to be advocating for more humane immigration policies, not just telling people how to react if they get caught up in a raid .

Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is, let's focus on building a community that supports each other, no matter what . We can do this!

I agree that business owners should be aware of their rights if ICE shows up at their workplace, but labeling private areas as 'off-limits' might not be enough...ICE can still get creative with warrants . Plus, what about the emotional toll on workers who are already stressed during the holiday season? We need to make sure these resources are accessible and clear for everyone . Let's hope the city steps up its support for small businesses and immigrant communities...

omg what's going on in usa these business owners r so worried about immigration agents but like shouldn't they be more worried about the economy & jobs creation? think we shd be talkin bout how 2 make us cities better places 4 every1

So they're gonna send more ICE agents to NY City and expect business owners not to freak out? Like, what's the plan here? They just gonna hand out pamphlets and hope people remember their rights? Newsflash: immigration laws are super convoluted and it's easy to get messed up. I'd rather see some actual support for undocumented workers or concrete action being taken against ICE than more propaganda about "knowing your rights". Where's the data on how many businesses have actually been raided by ICE in the past year? And what's with all these "private spaces" that are supposed to be off-limits to agents? How do we even verify that?

I don’t usually comment but… I feel bad for these business owners who have to worry about immigration agents showing up at their workplaces. Like, can't they just focus on getting holiday shoppers through the door? ICE agents are already causing enough stress, and now they're having to think about protecting their employees' rights too... it's a lot to handle. And what really gets me is that these business owners are being asked to post signs and labels everywhere just in case – like, isn't this something the government should be handling?

ICE agents just going to scare people into working for low wages? It's like they're expecting employers to be their personal immigration police . Businesses already have enough on their plates trying to make ends meet without having to deal with a bunch of entitled bureaucrats showing up at their doorstep unannounced . And what's the point of all these pamphlets and signs anyway? Just going to clutter up some small business's lobby with more paperwork? Can't people just Google "my rights if ICE shows up" on their phone like normal humans do?