A surge of Richmond-area businesses are sending a joint message to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
They are putting up a sign that read “ICE is not welcome here” and outline what businesses can do if ICE comes to their door.
The distributors of the signs, Richmond Community Legal Fund, estimates around 200 businesses have taken one.
In Carytown alone, half a dozen stores within a few blocks of each other had the sign up in their window or on their door.
“I think a lot of people are frightened to go out and do their daily routine and have fun because they are afraid they may not come home or their family member may not. So I just think it’s important to let people know, hey we understand that this is happening, we don’t want it to happen here,” Thea Brown, owner of World of Mirth, one of the stores with a sign, said.
To check what exactly a business’ rights are if ICE enters, 12 On Your Side reached out to a local immigration attorney.
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