The pandemic has upended the lives of over half a million undocumented immigrants in New York City. Ineligible for most financial assistance, many from Latin America have turned to what they did back home: working as ambulantes — street vendors. nyti.ms/390I83n 
Cristina Sanchez lost her job, then her rented room during the pandemic, triggering a frantic hustle to survive. First she sold produce, then tacos, then produce again.
Sabina Morales has been selling produce in Queens since she came to New York 15 years ago. She has helped new vendors get started by providing produce, but the increase in vendors has also made her work more difficult.
Gerardo Vital made a living showing Spanish-speaking tourists the highlights of Manhattan and Washington, D.C., enough to buy two cars and lease an SUV for tour groups. Now he sells tacos from a sidewalk stand at night.
Manuel Antonio Diaz Cordova arrived in New York in February, alone, a mere month before the city began to shut down. Without other work, he found someone to sell him masks in bulk and began selling them under the subway on Junction Boulevard in March.
Vendors, advocacy groups and politicians are pushing to add more mobile food vendor permits, and to set up a fund that would tax the city’s wealthiest to provide financial relief to undocumented workers.
See our full story about street vendors in New York City. nyti.ms/390I83n
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