A scene of mixed emotions unfolded at the Row NYC Hotel in New York City as children embarked on their daily school routines, while others remained inside, shielded by parents' fears of potential encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
Yensy Lopez, a mother of three from Colombia, expressed her concerns despite having a work permit and ongoing asylum proceedings. She shared her apprehension that ICE might target her children to compel her surrender.
Lopez described the toll the situation has taken on her family, with her children on edge due to the fear of ICE presence at their doorstep. The psychological strain has left them anxious about the uncertain future.
The Row NYC Hotel has transformed into a significant migrant shelter amid a surge in immigration since spring 2022. Situated in Manhattan near Times Square, the hotel now houses hundreds of migrants across its 1,331 rooms.
Several parents at the hotel expressed a prevailing sense of unease following increased ICE activities nationwide. Vanessa Meneses, a Venezuelan mother, highlighted the challenges of balancing childcare responsibilities with the need to seek employment.
Reflecting on the current climate, Meneses acknowledged the heightened enforcement under the Trump administration but remained hopeful that adherence to regulations would secure her family's well-being.
