ICE Fear Drains Foot Traffic in Brooklyn's Flatbush
What happens to a neighborhood when people are too afraid to leave home? In Flatbush, Brooklyn — one of New York City's largest Caribbean immigrant communities — that question has a measurable answer: businesses are losing up to 50% of their revenue, and some owners say the streets feel emptier than they did during COVID.
What if the slowdown at your business has nothing to do with your prices or your service — and everything to do with fear? That is the reality for dozens of small business owners in Flatbush, Brooklyn, where a survey by the Flatbush-Nostrand Junction Business Improvement District (BID) found that 70% of responding business owners reported a drop in foot traffic over the past year. Half said customers had directly raised concerns about ICE. The survey was published in July 2026.
Revenue down, staff missing, fear everywhere
Kenneth Mbonu, president and executive director of the Flatbush-Nostrand Junction BID, told Documented that some business owners who shared financial details reported revenue drops of up to 50%. For brick-and-mortar shops that depend on walk-in customers, that kind of loss makes it nearly impossible to pay rent — typically the biggest monthly cost. More than 80% of businesses in the district are minority-owned, and Mbonu estimates that over 70% of those owners are immigrants. One-third of survey respondents said they expected to reduce their workforce.
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Wendy Jules, co-owner of Fleur de Lis Beauty & Esthetics, a medical spa that has served Flatbush for nearly 10 years, said the change became visible around the end of May 2026. Where the shop once saw five to ten walk-ins a day, some weeks in July brought only about four total. Jules — a child of Haitian immigrants — said the fear is not limited to people without legal status. Mbonu echoed that: "Some of them even have green cards or some of them even have their U.S. passports. They're legal. But just the fear of being arrested in error... could be quite intimidating." ProPublica reported that more than 170 U.S. citizens were detained by ICE in 2025.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) — a program that lets people from certain countries live and work legally in the US while their home country faces a crisis — has added another layer of uncertainty. Many Haitian TPS holders in Flatbush have lost work authorization following TPS terminations, forcing some businesses to operate with fewer staff or close entirely. Jules said the impact reaches beyond the workplace: families drain savings on lawyers, worry about relatives in detention far from home, and in some cases choose to leave the US rather than risk arrest.
What to do
- Carry your immigration documents at all times — whether you have a green card, TPS, a work permit (EAD), or another valid status. If ICE stops you, you have the right to remain silent and the right to speak with an immigration lawyer before answering questions.
- If you must travel or report somewhere, tell a trusted family member or friend your plans. Lawyers recommend designating someone who can act on your behalf if you are detained.
- Set up a power of attorney — a legal document that lets a trusted person make decisions for you if you cannot. An immigration attorney can help you prepare one quickly.
- If your TPS work authorization has been terminated or you have a pending immigration application, consult an immigration lawyer before assuming you cannot work or must leave the US. Your specific situation may allow options that are not obvious.
What to do, step by step — see our guide “Appealing to the BIA”.
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Even people with valid green cards or pending applications have constitutional rights during an ICE encounter: the right to remain silent, the right not to consent to a search, and the right to an attorney. If ICE detains you, do not sign a voluntary departure form — signing it waives your right to an immigration court hearing and can result in a removal order. A power of attorney prepared in advance can allow a family member to care for your children or manage your finances while you fight your case. If your situation involves TPS termination or a pending work permit, speak with an immigration attorney before making any decisions about leaving the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ICE arrest me if I have a green card or a valid work permit?
Legally, a green card or valid work permit (EAD) protects your right to live and work in the US. However, ICE has detained people with valid status in error. If you are stopped, stay calm, show your documents, say you want a lawyer, and do not answer other questions. Report the incident to an immigration attorney as soon as possible.
What happens to my job if my TPS work authorization was terminated?
If your TPS has been terminated, your work authorization may no longer be valid. But court orders and ongoing legal challenges have affected TPS terminations for different nationalities at different times. Do not assume the worst — check with an immigration lawyer about the current status of TPS for your country and whether any court orders protect you.
What is a power of attorney and do I really need one?
A power of attorney is a legal document that lets you name a trusted person to act on your behalf — for example, to pick up your children from school, pay your bills, or speak with your landlord — if you are detained and cannot do it yourself. Immigration lawyers strongly recommend preparing one before anything happens, not after.
If I am detained by ICE, can I be deported without seeing a judge?
In most cases, you have the right to a hearing before an immigration judge before a final removal order is issued. The exception is if you sign a voluntary departure or reinstatement of removal form. Never sign any document ICE gives you without first speaking to an immigration attorney.