LI food banks report immigrants avoiding food pantries due to ICE fears

Long Island Cares says 20% of the people who use their food pantries and services are immigrants.

Kurt Semder

Jul 30, 2025, 9:39 PM

Updated 19 hr ago

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While the demand at food pantries across Long Island remains high, the number of immigrants visiting them has dropped.
Long Island Cares reports over 300,000 people on Long Island face food insecurity, and 20% of the people who use its services are immigrants.
It says that many of its regular clients aren't showing up due to fears over potential interactions with ICE agents.
Pronto of Long Island says it is seeing the same issue, and that even people with proper documentation are not coming out as much.
Both organizations say they are concerned about how people they see on a regular basis are getting the food they need for themselves and their families.