On Christmas Eve morning, ICE agents take East Village restaurant worker into custody on 7th Street

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

A kitchen worker at Ho Foods on Seventh Street was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents earlier this morning, according to her cousin and eyewitnesses. 

The woman, identified by her family as Evelyn, was working in the prep kitchen when she received a message instructing her to step outside to speak with immigration officials here between Avenue A and First Avenue, her cousin said. 

When she exited the restaurant, which is closed today and tomorrow, several vehicles were waiting, and ICE agents handcuffed her and took her away. 

The detainment was captured by a passerby just after 8:30 a.m. and shared on social media.

ICE picks up woman on 7th St b/n 1st & A 8:35AM. Help find her family! ⁦@ZohranKMamdani⁩ ⁦@RepDanGoldman⁩ ⁦@HarveyforNY⁩ ⁦@SenSchumer⁩ ⁦@nycdistrict1⁩ ⁦@bradhoylman⁩ ⁦@MarkLevineNYC⁩ ⁦@JumaaneWilliams⁩ ⁦@DeborahJGlick⁩ pic.twitter.com/Wnie4ky8Eb

— Jeannine Kiely (@JeannineKiely) December 24, 2025

According to her cousin, Evelyn was born in Peru and lives in Queens. She wears an ankle monitoring device and had previously been involved in immigration proceedings. Her family said she had complied with all required check-ins and directives from immigration authorities. She has a child, who is currently with her former partner.

District 2 City Council Member Harvey Epstein was on the scene this afternoon at Ho Foods, and his office is seeking pro bono legal assistance for her.

Epstein responded to the incident, telling EVG: "I am saddened to see another New Yorker taken off the streets of our great city with no due process by masked ICE agents. Our community and city deserve better. Efforts are underway to identify her so she can be provided zealous representation." 

Co-workers have organized a crowdfunding effort to help with legal fees, which you can find here.

An NYPD source told EVG that the department was not aware of any ICE-related activity in the neighborhood. The source said that this is typical, noting that the NYPD is generally not notified of immigration enforcement actions unless they are connected to a criminal investigation or drug-related activity. 

The incident has prompted heightened concern in the neighborhood, with messages circulating on Signal and WhatsApp claiming ICE agents were canvassing Tompkins Square Park and surrounding areas. 

At this time, EVG has not confirmed any additional ICE activity beyond this incident. 

We will update as more information becomes available.

Ho Foods will start serving Taiwanese beef noodle soup today on 7th Street

Ho Foods debuts as a full-time restaurant today at 110 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

As previously noted, chef-owner Richard Ho, who has worked at Blue Ribbon Sushi’s Brooklyn and Columbus Circle locations for eight years, is behind this venture, which took part in several pop-up events in recent years. His speciality is Taiwanese beef noodle soup.

Grub Street has a preview here:

His idea was to mimic actual beef noodle shops where the soup, he says, is usually just complimented by a single hot side and rotating vegetable sides. Here, the menu will be rounded out by extras like pork rice and a few sides, including homemade soft tofu with century egg, sweet soy, and bonito. Down the road, he plans to introduce Taiwanese breakfast. “It’s super carb heavy. It’s delicious,” he says, pointing to sweet and savory soy milks and sticky-rice rolls that bundle crullers, pork floss, and other fillings.

And a look at the menu...



No word on hours just yet. (Didn't spot them on the Ho Foods website.)

The smallish space was home to Porchetta until November 2016.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ho Foods coming to 7th Street

Ho Foods coming to 7th Street

Ho Foods, a Taiwan beef noodle soup pop up, is opening a full-time restaurant at 110 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Applicant Richard Ho is on CB3's November SLA commitee agenda for a beer-wine license. This item will not be heard before the committee on Nov. 15, per paperwork on file at the CB3 website.

Ho started his career at Blue Ribbon, where he advanced from waiter to GM of the Columbus Circle location during eight years there. He moved on to pursue his passion for cooking with Ho Foods (per this article).

Ho Foods has taken part in one-night-only events such as the first Dragon Boat Festival back in May with Nom Wah Nolita, among other restaurants.

The smallish Seventh Street space was home to Porchetta until last November.

Meanwhile, you can see some of the Ho Foods menu items via their Instagram account...

It's still juust cold enough out to enjoy that hot bowl of beef noodle soup 😊️ . . . #asianfood #taiwan #nyc #newyork #chinese #chinesefood #food #foodie #ramen #beefnoodlesoup #taiwanese #taiwan #🍜 #taiwanesefood #asian #noodlesoup #broth #nom #yum #soupbroth #nycfood #ny #nyfood #noodle #foodpopup #popupshop

A post shared by H O F O O D S (@hofoodsnyc) on May 15, 2017 at 12:38pm PDT