Oct. 24, 2025, 3:28 PM EDTBy David K. Li and Daniella SilvaTourists and locals alike know they can emerge from the dingy subway stations along roughly five blocks of New York City’s Canal Street to be greeted with rows of sparkling, polished designer knockoff bags, watches, jewelry — and their hawkers.This week was different. On Tuesday, a federal immigration raid on street vendors who power the mini-economy of Canal’s sidewalks sent many retreating into the shadows. Federal immigration agents arrested nine individuals.“The vendors, they’re gone,” photographer Harlan Erskine, who works in the neighborhood, said Wednesday. “It feels like an odd holiday.”But New Yorkers are resilient, and by Thursday afternoon the neighborhood appeared to be slowly trickling back to life. A 45-year-old sunglasses vendor, who gave his name only as Michael, said he felt the pressure to keep working. “I have to work, do you think the president of the United States is going to pay my rent?” he said. “Hell no.”