Last week, the American Booksellers Association made the slide deck from its ICE and Bookstores panel at Winter Institute 2026 available on Bookweb.org, along with some key takeaways.
As the panel was not recorded and press were asked not to attend, Shelf Awareness has talked with two of the booksellers who appeared on the panel--Emily Russo, co-owner of Print: A Bookstore in Portland, Maine, and Stephanie Kitchen, owner of City Lit Books in Chicago, Ill.--for some additional insights.
It should be noted that neither Russo nor Kitchen are lawyers, and remarks below should not be taken as legal advice.
A major point of emphasis for the panel was the importance of preparation and "making a plan before things escalate," said Kitchen. This includes making safety plans, gathering information, and training staff on what to say and do if ICE agents attempt to enter the store.
Areas in-store where customers are not allowed should be marked with signs saying "Private Area" rather than simply "Staff Only," Russo noted, as ICE is not supposed to enter an area marked private without a judicial warrant. Russo also encouraged booksellers to familiarize themselves with what a judicial warrant looks like in their state.
|
|
| Stephanie Kitchen | |
Booksellers could also put signs on their front door saying, "ICE Is Not Welcome Here Without a Judicial Warrant," though stores may wish to avoid doing so if there is a risk of reprisal for being outspoken. Both Russo and Kitchen have stores in progressive cities; booksellers in purple or conservative areas may reconsider. Booksellers who are members of vulnerable groups may also not feel comfortable doing so due to the fear of being targeted.
"You don't have to do anything except to do the best that you can," Kitchen remarked. "If you don't feel safe doing it, don't put up the sign."
Bookstore owners should be aware of the possibility of I-9 audits and have Employment Eligibility Verification forms ready and in a safe space. It is important to remember that employers do not have to respond to I-9 audits immediately--legally, they have three days to comply. "You do not have to hand that paperwork over at the time of request," said Russo. "Acknowledge the request, state that you know you have three days to comply, and seek legal counsel."
 |
|
| Emily Russo | |
When it comes to preparing staff for potential encounters with ICE, Russo suggested training staff to say at most: "I will not be answering any questions. You need to speak with my employer." After that, booksellers should call their state's ACLU chapter for further assistance; that number, and numbers for any relevant hotlines, should be behind the counter in a place that is easy to find. Booksellers can also sign their staff up for de-escalation training.
Kitchen also mentioned making the staff's emergency contact information accessible to people other than ownership. As an owner herself, Kitchen said, she has all of that information in her files, but in the event of a worst-case scenario, "what if something happens to me or I'm not there?"
Asked about resources that proved helpful, Russo pointed to a guide put together by the National Employment Law Project and National Immigration Center on what to do if immigration comes to your workplace. She also brought up a Know Your Rights guide from the Immigration Defense Project; though it focuses more on homes and residences, Russo said, it was still "very valuable." Kitchen said she made use of a similar guide from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights and advised booksellers to look for resources shared by organizations in their state.
Networking and sharing information with other local businesses and community members can also be helpful. Signal, the encrypted messaging app, can be used to keep communications secure. Kitchen recalled that during the peak of ICE activity in Chicago, there were community members keeping tabs on ICE's movements, volunteers making and handing out whistle kits, and people "coming together in the hardest times."
On the subject of supporting staff in difficult times, they stressed keeping an open dialogue with staff members and being mindful of their comfort levels. Not everyone will feel comfortable recording ICE agents, for example, and some people may not feel comfortable commuting during periods of increased ICE activity. Some options include paying for rideshares for staff members, and having staff members work from home or do tasks that limit time on the sales floor.
"What I found was that staff wanted to be together in the store during the height of all this," Kitchen said.
It was also important to be understanding and empathetic with staff. Owners and managers should encourage booksellers to use paid time off, take advantage of government programs like the Family and Medical Leave Act, or take longer breaks. They should recognize too that when stress is high, there is a greater chance of people being late and making mistakes.
"Give as much grace as humanly possible," Russo said. "Be gentle with yourself." --Alex Mutter