When ICE Comes Knocking
The Village Independent Democrats Show How to Answer the Door
By Isis O’Flynn-Shahaf
On Saturday, December 13, small businesses of the West Village were approached by 21 members of the Village Independent Democrats (VID) to help educate them about their rights against ICE. Informational pamphlets, in both Spanish and English, were handed to staff members. One is a sign to put outside a business’s private area, which ICE officers cannot legally enter. The others include phone numbers such as Legal Aid Society and Human Rights First, as well as QR codes to help find lawyers. There is also information to help make an emergency plan, a list of documents to carry and not carry, how to find a detained person, bond funds, and videos on safely interacting with ICE. A red card is attached to every pamphlet listing the holder’s constitutional rights on one side, with the other to be shown if stopped by an agent.
VID member since 2017 Melissa Carty guided the volunteers on their Saturday task. During these terrifying times, approaching people about ICE raids is intimidating. “You could knock on someone’s door thinking they’re a Democrat but they actually turn out to be MAGA,” Carty says of her experience canvassing in the region. Although born and raised in the suburbs of New Jersey, ever since moving to NYC after college, Carty has felt protective of her NYC peers. This was her fourth canvassing event: “This is a sanctuary city…we will not make this easy for them [ICE officers],” she said. She is a full time financial consultant and active community member who typically spends five to six hours per week dedicated to VID efforts. These include board meetings, setting up and attending events, and helping spread word on the cause.
I followed Carty and Sara O’Neill, a fellow VID member, to their assigned streets; Bleecker and Christopher. The duo reached a total of 25 businesses. After having entered Fiacchetria, a cozy Italian restaurant, one of the workers came back out to ask for more flyers.
Moesky Ahmed, an employee at Christopher Munch Shop, accepted the flyers appreciatively. He had never received this kind of information before and said “…it gives me hope that there will be change.” Ahmed hopes to see less “unlawful enforcement” everywhere and for immigrants to feel safe in the city. His friend Manny Jimenez, general manager of L’industrie Pizzeria in Brooklyn, was born and raised in the Bronx. Jimenez feels passionately about immigrant safety, “What bothers me the most,” he said, “is that everyone is an immigrant…if it wasn’t for immigrants, nobody could be here.” Jimenez hopes to see: “…a whole new administration.” Having worked in the food industry for over five years, Jimenez comments that: “Pizza, Mexican, Halal, the delis, the bodegas…all don’t happen without immigrants.” Both Jimenez and Ahmed are frustrated to see so many people who represent the core of NYC stripped of their rights.
Muré + Grand, a sweet clothing store on Bleecker Street was jam-packed with eager customers, but regional manager Indee E. took the time to absorb Carty and O’Neill’s education. Her team has faced no concerns regarding ICE, but she recalls witnessing the Canal Street raids “…we saw all the military trucks down the block. It was scary.” Her fellow store managers and staff members have casual conversations about what to do if ICE comes knocking, but the VID’s canvassing was the first time the store had formal training. Indee has an optimistic view on the future of immigrant livelihood, saying that everyone has each other’s backs and that there is a strong sense of community.
The duo stopped by The Flowery, a cannabis store on Christopher Street, where they spoke to the shift lead Raven Davis. Davis has always been passionate about social justice and spreading awareness on issues that she believes deserve more attention, She is proud to see people taking a stand against ICE: “New Yorkers are not having it…you are taking our people, community and culture.” She, like many others approached by the VID, was appreciative of the information they received and said, “It is great to see this…authorities won’t protect us, so we have to protect each other.”
Preparing immigrants to safely handle the current political climate is no easy feat. To ensure confidence and success among members and volunteers, the VID partnered with Indivisible Harlem. Rebecca Saletan, a founding member, trained them for their canvassing. Founded in 2016 after Trump’s first election, this group advocates for progressive values in the Harlem neighborhood. Laura Daigen-Ayala first established this project in Inwood: “She was the spark for all of this, we just picked it up and spread it…this whole thing would not exist without Laura,” commented Saletan. The efforts have been highly effective: “In lots of places we go into, they’ve gotten an email from corporate…and they don’t look at the emails…the employees don’t see them, but if you go in with actual detailed, colorful, well-written, accessible material that gives them everything they need, then you are really reaching people…who most need the protection.” Last weekend, Indivisible Harlem had 16 groups canvassing the neighborhood.
At the end of 2025, the VID completed six ICE canvassing events. This has been the group’s first major effort in helping the immigrant community, but they have always supported immigrant rights. Currently, the West Village remains safe from ICE. With the VID as neighborhood superheroes, there is more hope for the protection of the immigrant community that has built the city we love.
