NEW ROCHELLE, NY (August 30, 2025) — In a shocking reversal, city officials have rescheduled the annual Taste of Union Avenue event for Sept. 27, just weeks after canceling the July 26 gathering over fears that U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations would round up undocumented immigrants in the West End.
The announcement comes is a complete reversal of a decision by city officials first reported by Talk of the Sound.
The event, a celebration of New Rochelle’s diverse Latin American community featuring local restaurants, vendors, children’s activities, performances and more, will run from noon to 6 p.m. on Union Avenue between First and Fourth streets. It had been quietly scrapped last month without an official announcement, with the city’s webpage and Instagram post promoting the event removed.
Sources at City Hall said concerns were raised by Councilmember Martha Lopez, who represents District 1 including Union Avenue and a large segment of the city’s Latino population, about low turnout due to ongoing ICE enforcement. Lopez did not reply to emails seeking comment.
“After careful consideration, Union Avenue will not be part of New Rochelle’s ‘Taste of’ series this year – a decision made to ensure our public events remain safe, welcoming, and successful for all,” city officials said in a statement at the time. “We’re developing an alternate way to celebrate and support the area’s vibrant restaurants and small businesses, and will share more soon.”
There were no alternate plans.
The city went ahead with other events like Taste of Leroy, Taste of Horton and others.
The cancellation followed a series of ICE raids in New Rochelle and nearby areas. Over the past six weeks before the decision, 10 people were known to have been detained in New Rochelle by federal agents — four at the Home Depot on June 3, five at Heritage Homes on June 26 potentially linked to the dangerous Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, and one on a murder warrant out of the Dominican Republic on May 19.
Federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI and the New York Police Department conducted the early morning raid at 50 Col. Lee Archer Boulevard at the Heritage House townhouses between 5:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. on June 26, targeting five individuals — two male Hispanics and three female Hispanics — according to witnesses.
Local residents said the people taken into custody were suspected of involvement in a car theft ring and potentially linked to Tren de Aragua. Witnesses reported the use of long guns, flash bangs and helicopters overhead during the operation.
The New Rochelle Police Department confirmed Homeland Security Investigations notified them of the raid, stating no local police assistance was needed. No New Rochelle officers were involved.
The following day, on June 27, ICE conducted raids near Columbus Park in Mamaroneck, targeting an undocumented individual with criminal convictions. While the targeted individual was not found, another undocumented person with a criminal record residing at 516 Van Ranst Place was arrested.
On May 19, ICE arrested Marlon Josuel Cruz Fernandez, an undocumented immigrant from the Dominican Republic wanted in his home country for homicide, in New Rochelle. Cruz was apprehended without incident by ICE officers and special agents alongside agents from the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations.
“This foreign fugitive mistakenly thought he could exploit our immigration laws to evade arrest in his home country,” said Judith Almodovar, acting Field Office Director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations New York City. “Let his futile attempt highlight to other criminal aliens we will always collaborate with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to ensure these fugitives are returned to their home countries to face justice.”
An ICE spokesperson said in a statement to CBS News New York: “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement does not indiscriminately conduct enforcement actions on random people at public events, nor do we target U.S. citizens for the purpose of civil immigration enforcement. ICE conducts targeted enforcement actions that are based on intelligence driven leads focused on aliens identified for arrest and removal from the United States.”
City officials ignored email inquiries over the past week before the cancellation was reported.
A Facebook poll by Talk of the Sound on July 4 asked readers: “Should New Rochelle cancel its annual Taste of Union Avenue event on July 27 due to ongoing enforcement and removal operations by ICE?” After five days and more than 500 votes, close to 60% supported canceling the event following a heated online debate.
How is this Union Avenue event so dangerous on July 26 that it had to be canceled on short notice but now safe on September 27? What changed? Did Trump tell DHS ICE to stop grabbing illegals off the street and deporting them?
Homeland Security and ICE did not respond to emails seeking additional information.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
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This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.
