Some small businesses across the city are participating in a nationwide strike against federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis and across the country.

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Cindy Cortez, owner of Newtown HQ, a pop culture gift shop in Astoria, said this is the first time her store, which opened about five years ago, is participating in a nationwide protest. It’s a decision the 36-year-old says didn’t come easy

Cortez, who was born in Los Angeles and moved to Queens at 6 years old, comes from a Mexican household. Some of the artwork being sold in her shop was made by immigrants in the city and the country. She said it’s a nod to the diversity of the borough

Even though she’s a U.S. citizen and her parents are living in the city legally, Cortez said she is worried about her safety and the safety of those around her. She said the strike is her way of standing up for vulnerable communities, including immigrants

A pop culture gift shop in Astoria, Queens, is one of the small businesses across the city participating in Friday’s strike.

“Everybody that we sell in the store, my team, me, we’re basically the targets,” Cindy Cortez, owner of Newtown HQ, said.

Cortez said this is the first time her store, which opened approximately five years ago, is participating in a nationwide protest. It’s a decision the 36-year-old said didn’t come easy.

“It was really hard. We’re a small business. Every day counts for every small business,” Cortez said.

Her team showed NY1 around the shop Friday, which would typically have shoppers on any given day. However, it’s now quiet.

Draping at the front door of the store, customers would see a Mexican flag.

Cortez, who was born in Los Angeles and moved to Queens at 6 years old, comes from a Mexican household.

Some of the artwork being sold in her shop was made by immigrants in the city and the country. She said it’s a nod to the diversity of the borough.

“We have a lot of Mexican artists, but also from our other Latin countries, Puerto Rican, Dominican, but we also have our Asian, Korean. A little bit of what makes Queens amazing, we feature in our store,” she said.

Even though she’s a U.S. citizen and her parents are living in the city legally, she said she is worried about her safety and the safety of those around her.

Cortez said the strike is her way of standing up for vulnerable communities, including immigrants.

“I just felt very tired, very taken down by everything that’s going on. We’re all sad, we’re all scared, not just for us, but [for] our families that are being targeted,” she said.

Cortez said she’s paying her small team of four people for the day.

“Seeing how we’re gonna lose community members to this, which is, I think, more important sometimes than the money,” she said.

Cortez’s shop will be open on Saturday, but she said she is ready to strike again.

She added she will continue to strike to send a strong message against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and show her support for immigrant New Yorkers.