A dreamer who runs two small businesses in New York City said Newsweek On Monday that she and her staff are living under a dark cloud, among what an immigrant lawyer called the “hysteria of mass expulsion” under President Donald Trump.
Sarahi Marquez has been a resident of Staten Island since he was six years old. At the age of 33, she has opened a Tex-Mex restaurant and a Deli, offering her community places to eat together and talk about what is happening in the world. Last week, she felt a difference in the mood between staff and her clients.
“It was a dark cloud that came to us, with fear, anxiety, depression, panic,” she told her Newsweek At a conference on Monday sponsored by the New York (NYIC) immigration coalition, a migrant advocacy group. “We’re all nervous. We don’t know what will happen.”
Newsweek Arrived at the White House and the Department of Internal Security for Comment through email on Monday afternoon.
Why does it matter
As a self-declared Sanctanty city, New York does not allow the implementation of local law or other agencies to cooperate with federal immigration agencies such as immigration and customs implementation (ICE). This is not to say that raids or implementation actions will not occur for illegal state migrants 602,000 plus, as Trump’s new administration seeks to provide its promises of mass expulsion and tougher border security.
A New York Times/IPSOS survey, conducted from January 2 to 10, found 55 percent of voters by force or somewhat supported such plans. Eighty -eight percent support “the expulsion of immigrants who are illegally here and have criminal data”. The large majority of Democrats and Republicans agreed that the immigration system would break down.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
What to know
Marquez, 33, runs the restaurant and Bakery San Jeromino, which she said Newsweek She opened after she saw a need in her Port Richmond community for a country to serve authentic Mexican food, while also offering a community meeting space.
Some of the nearly 20 restaurant employees have been on the advantage, she said, waiting to see if the ice would appear last week as they take the bus to work, or go home in a taxi. While not reporting ice raids on the city, the implementation action was reported in Long Island and West New York, NYIC said, and the action within five municipalities is expected to come at all times.
“There is a musician on the road that comes, usually on weekends, plays his guitar, a small song and wants some advice,” Marquez said. “Yesterday, he went in to play a song and as he was settling, three police officers go inside. I thought they came in for a complaint about the noise, I go up to see what’s going on and they remove the boy.”
Officers from NYPD had come to stop the husband from losing a court date, she said, but the arrest had an immediate effect on others in the building.
“Everyone in the restaurant are shocked. They freeze. They don’t know what to do,” Marquez said. “My staff just stay there and they’re like” what’s going on? Is this ice? “”
Photo AP/Alex Brandon
While ICE officers had not appeared, NYIC noted that the attempt at mass deportation was throughout the government, with the administration of drug implementation (DEA), the American marshals and the Bureau of Alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives (ATF ) also included.
“We have been dealing with the hysteria of mass expulsion, and people have felt that any implementation of the local law they see could be ICE,” said Murad Awawdeh, CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, at the conference of the moon. “There is a level of fear all over the city and state that I have never seen before.”
NYIC and other immigrant advocacy groups have told their communities that ICE agents must have a court order, signed by a judge, in order to enter home or private spaces, including businesses, and people informed about their rights under the US Constitution, regardless of immigration status.
Marquez, who has benefited from the Daca program since 2013, said she wanted to speak on behalf of her staff, her community and her family that everyone faces an uncertain future.
President Trump and his border Czar Tom Homan have repeatedly said that they are focused on migrants who have committed crimes in addition to crossing the border, highlighting the arrests of convicts or accused of violent offenses in recent days.
At the same time, Trump’s promise that mass expulsion would expand left a sense of fear among migrants with uncertain legal status, who otherwise respect the law.
“There is a saying in Spanish:” Those who have done nothing wrong, there is no reason to fear, “Marquez said. “I work seven days a week, sometimes 14, 15 hours. We spend our time working. We want to be better.”
Marquez said Newsweek New York is the only home she has known, and that she hoped to go to school for the master’s degree as her businesses are completely thriving. Her message to the new administration is to allow migrants like her to show what they can do for the JBA
“We want to make this country better, we want the United States economy to be better,” she said. “I want to stay here. Allow me the opportunity to try myself and let others try themselves.”
Over the weekend, ICE confirmed that the target operations were underway in the city of Agoikago’s sanctuary, while also announcing the arrests of well -known criminals in Miami and Puerto Rico. The president also expanded the powers for rapidly followed expulsion, avoiding the long time of reception.
What are people saying
Murad Awawdeh, Director General of the New York Immigration Coalition, told him Newsweek: “I think it’s an annoying experience you have to pass, but I think people will stand for themselves, their colleagues, their friends and their families. The most important thing someone can do is to know which their rights are ”
Czar Tom Homan border, addressing whether all illegal migrants will be expelled to ABC News: “I am realistic. We can do what we can with the money we have. We will try to be efficient, but with more money we have, the more we can achieve. I have no money to remove it a lot of people. “
White House, on X, Sunday: “According to President Trump’s leadership, ICE agents are working tirelessly to protect our communities. From child rapes to suspected ISIS terrorists.”
What is next
For migrants in New York City, President Eric Adams, a Democrat who has personally and politically joined Trump since the election, said last week that he would seek to implement federal authorities when needed, as they should focus on them by going to communities and committing serious or violent crimes. Officials have said that city sanctuary laws remain a place for now.