Albuquerque Businesses Support Anti-ICE Protests by Giving Back

Local shops donate proceeds to causes instead of closing during demonstrations

Jan. 30, 2026 at 8:15pm

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Protesters took to the streets of Albuquerque on Friday to demonstrate against ICE. While some business owners wanted to join the walkout, they chose to support the movement by donating proceeds from their shops to organizations like the New Mexico Immigration Law Center.

Why it matters

The protests in Albuquerque reflect growing national concerns about the role of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the treatment of immigrant communities. By supporting the protesters through charitable donations, local businesses are showing solidarity with the movement and providing resources to advocacy groups.

The details

Businesses like Catopia Cat Café and Plata Coffee decided to keep their doors open during the protests, but instead of closing, they donated partial or all of their proceeds on Friday to the New Mexico Immigration Law Center. The owners emphasized the importance of providing a safe space for community members to express themselves and not feeling alone during "a pretty worrisome time."

  • Protesters took over downtown Albuquerque early on Friday, January 31, 2026.

The players

Sandy Dierks

The owner of Catopia Cat Café.

Amanda Johnson

The assistant manager at Plata Coffee.

New Mexico Immigration Law Center

The organization that received donations from the local businesses.

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What they’re saying

“It's a pretty worrisome time in our world”

— Sandy Dierks, Owner, Catopia Cat Café

“We thought that the best compromise of the two would be to help our neighbors in this way”

— Amanda Johnson, Assistant Manager, Plata Coffee

“A big part of coffee culture is offering a safe place”

— Amanda Johnson, Assistant Manager, Plata Coffee

The takeaway

By supporting the protesters through charitable donations, local Albuquerque businesses are demonstrating solidarity with the anti-ICE movement and providing resources to advocacy groups during a time of national concern over immigration enforcement policies.