Restaurant owners face backlash for taking stand against ice immigration enforcement

A growing number of restaurant owners across the United States are finding themselves caught in a political crossfire as they speak out against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, facing online harassment and economic retaliation that threatens their already struggling businesses.

Anton Kinloch, owner of Lone Wolf craft cocktail bar in Kingston, New York, exemplifies this dilemma. During calls for a national restaurant shutdown on January 30th, he chose to keep his doors open while displaying a defiant sidewalk sign reading “WE LOVE ICE IN DRINKS. WE DON’T LOVE ICE IN REAL LIFE. SOLIDARITY ALWAYS.” Along with his wife and business partner Lisa Dy, Kinloch donated a portion of the evening’s proceeds to local immigrant advocacy groups, balancing his conscience with economic reality during a particularly harsh winter that had already hurt regional business.

The protest stems from recent incidents involving ICE and Customs and Border Patrol agents, including the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, which have galvanized opposition within the restaurant industry. However, restaurateurs who speak out report facing coordinated one-star review campaigns and boycotts that can devastate small businesses operating on thin margins.

The situation is particularly complex for immigrant restaurant owners themselves, who must weigh the risks of speaking out against immigration enforcement while potentially exposing themselves to increased scrutiny. This creates a chilling effect within an industry that relies heavily on immigrant workers and owners, forcing difficult choices between political expression and business survival in an increasingly polarized climate.