After induction into his new office, US President Donald Trump, ordered a crackdown on illegal immigrants in the country. Reports of anti-immigrant policies have caused unrest among the Gujarati communities in the US.&nbsp;
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in areas with significant Gujarati populations in New York on January 26-27 have triggered widespread panic, particularly among undocumented immigrants.
In the early hours of January 27, ICE officials were spotted patrolling Flushing, Queens, a neighborhood with a substantial Gujarati population. According to residents, ICE agents entered specific residential buildings targeting individuals, checking IDs of people they encountered.&nbsp;
A resident stated that ICE agents were searching for specific individuals and conducted ID checks during the raid. The building raided houses of approximately 80% Gujaratis, intensifying fears in the community.
Undocumented immigrants have resorted to staying indoors to avoid ICE. The raids have altered daily life&mdash;parks that once bustled late into the night now see minimal activity, and residents often venture out wearing hoodies, jackets, or masks to avoid being recognized. Those with valid documents, like driver&rsquo;s licenses or work permits, now carry them at all times.
An ICE operation targeting an apartment on Beach Avenue in Flushing further exacerbated concerns. The flat had previously been raided in 2008 during President Barack Obama&rsquo;s administration, leading to the arrest and deportation of six Gujaratis. The apartment was known to house undocumented immigrants who had crossed borders illegally.
Before Trump&rsquo;s tenure, Gujarati residents in Flushing roamed freely, much like they would in Ahmedabad. However, in just one week, fear has transformed the community&rsquo;s demeanor. One resident noted that ICE officials are now visible at subway stations, and even police cars parked on roads prompt anxiety among Gujaratis.
Similar situations have also been reported in New Jersey, where an ICE raid on a store was allegedly conducted without a warrant. Undocumented workers were arrested, some without criminal records. Apart from New York and New Jersey, such reports are surfacing in other parts of the US as well, highlighting a broader climate of uncertainty for immigrant communities.

Raids by ICE have quieted the hustle bustle of daily life with people choosing to stay indoors

Agency officials conducted raids in New York, New Jersey neighborhoods with sizeable Guj population

‘ICE’ Fear Grips Gujarati Community in US

Agency officials conducted raids in New York, New Jersey neighborhoods with sizeable Guj population

January 28, 2025 | 19:25 IST