ICE Targets NYC Street Vendors, Communities Rally with "Know Your Rights" Campaign

New York City street vendors, many of them immigrants, are facing a new wave of fear. Recent immigration raids by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) have prompted community groups to take rapid action to protect them. Staff from the Street Vendor Project are now patrolling city streets. They distribute "know your rights" information to vendors selling goods like fruits and vegetables. This marks a major shift in their work. "We used to focus on helping vendors get permits to avoid fines," said Eric Nava-Pérez, a Spanish-speaking organizer for the group. "Now, we’re distributing immigration rights information." The effort intensified on a freezing December day in the Bronx. As temperatures dropped below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, organizers connected with vendors on busy commercial streets. Several vendors reported feeling scared after seeing videos of raids across New York. Community groups emphasize that collective action is their primary defense. They are organizing quickly to keep the city's street vendors safe and able to work.