Immigration groups help community prepare for ICE enforcement
Advocacy groups like the Street Vendors Project say they have been handing out whistles, a system started in Chicago that's made its way to New York City.
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Local immigration groups are doing outreach across New York City as federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids continue.
For many street vendors, selling things like fruits and vegetables is their livelihood. They are now facing challenges and fears of immigration raids, sanitation crackdowns and NYPD enforcement.
"We leave our homes, and we don't know if we're coming back," said one local vendor and advocate.
Advocacy groups like the Street Vendors Project say they have been handing out whistles, a system started in Chicago that's made its way to New York City.
The Street Vendors project says the whistles are for those who may be impacted, so they know when to seek shelter. The idea is simple - if someone blows the whistle, it's meant to alert those around them that immigration enforcement may be in the area.
They're passing out "know your rights" information to vendors, connecting people to legal help and setting up messaging systems that alert vendors of ICE activity in real time. The group says its outreach has grown significantly in the last few weeks.
"We build power in numbers. If people want to help, they can DM us on Instagram or sign up on our website. We train our volunteers and send them out to talk directly to vendors," said Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez, of the Stret Vendors Project.
News 12 reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
A spokesperson wrote, “Our officers are they are highly trained and in the face of rioting, doxxing, and physical attacks, they have shown professionalism. They are not afraid of loud noises and whistles.”
