In the United States, a disturbing trend is unfolding in Minnesota's restaurants. Under the guise of "dining," Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have been using a tactic to detain workers, leaving many fearful for their safety.
On Wednesday, four ICE agents walked into El Tapatio, a Mexican restaurant in Willmar, just hours after eating lunch there. Their presence sent chills down the spines of staff and patrons alike. The agents eventually detained three employees, sparking outrage among those who witnessed the scene. One bystander was overheard saying, "Would your mama be proud of you right now?" The arrests took place as the restaurant closed, with officers following the workers and detaining them outside.
This tactic is not an isolated incident in Minnesota; similar situations are happening all across the state. In recent weeks, a worker at Pancho's Taqueria and Mexican Cafe in Circle Pines was detained by ICE, only to be deported just 12 hours later. The restaurant owner has set up a GoFundMe page to support the family of the worker, raising nearly $25,000.
In another instance, on December 12th, ICE agents pretended to be customers at a Brooklyn Park coffee shop for an hour before "accidentally" hitting a car and detaining one employee. The man was handcuffed and taken away without explanation.
The mere presence of ICE officers in these restaurants creates a climate of fear, causing employees to choose between their jobs or their freedom. CBS News reported that El Rodeo, a Mexican restaurant in Maple Grove, closed its doors due to staffing shortages caused by workers who were too afraid to return to work.
Restaurant owners and staff are speaking out against this tactic, appealing to the community for support. Despite the arrests, it's clear that ICE's actions have a broader impact on these establishments, stifling their ability to operate normally. As one restaurant owner wrote in a Facebook post, "Thank you for letting us be a part of this community for so long and we hope to be able to continue to be a part of it."
On Wednesday, four ICE agents walked into El Tapatio, a Mexican restaurant in Willmar, just hours after eating lunch there. Their presence sent chills down the spines of staff and patrons alike. The agents eventually detained three employees, sparking outrage among those who witnessed the scene. One bystander was overheard saying, "Would your mama be proud of you right now?" The arrests took place as the restaurant closed, with officers following the workers and detaining them outside.
This tactic is not an isolated incident in Minnesota; similar situations are happening all across the state. In recent weeks, a worker at Pancho's Taqueria and Mexican Cafe in Circle Pines was detained by ICE, only to be deported just 12 hours later. The restaurant owner has set up a GoFundMe page to support the family of the worker, raising nearly $25,000.
In another instance, on December 12th, ICE agents pretended to be customers at a Brooklyn Park coffee shop for an hour before "accidentally" hitting a car and detaining one employee. The man was handcuffed and taken away without explanation.
The mere presence of ICE officers in these restaurants creates a climate of fear, causing employees to choose between their jobs or their freedom. CBS News reported that El Rodeo, a Mexican restaurant in Maple Grove, closed its doors due to staffing shortages caused by workers who were too afraid to return to work.
Restaurant owners and staff are speaking out against this tactic, appealing to the community for support. Despite the arrests, it's clear that ICE's actions have a broader impact on these establishments, stifling their ability to operate normally. As one restaurant owner wrote in a Facebook post, "Thank you for letting us be a part of this community for so long and we hope to be able to continue to be a part of it."
i'm literally shaking thinking about these ICE agents sneaking into restaurants like they own the place 
can't believe they're scaring people half to death just to detain workers 
those workers are just trying to make a living and provide for their families, not deserving of this kind of treatment 
it's so messed up that restaurant owners are having to close their doors due to staff shortages 
i'm all for supporting the workers' rights and making sure they're treated with dignity and respect 
meanwhile, ICE just needs to find other ways to enforce immigration laws that don't involve terrorizing innocent people 
let's show some love and support to these restaurants and their employees who are facing this nightmare 
This is super concerning... ICE just showing up at restaurants, freaking out workers, what's going on? I mean, if they're not doing anything wrong why are they being detained? It's like, you go in there to eat and suddenly you're in handcuffs. 
That's so not right. And the fact that people are getting deported after just 12 hours is wild... like what even is that process? The owner of Pancho's Taqueria raised nearly $25k for one worker's family, though. That's some good community spirit 
. restaurant owners & staff deserve better than to live in fear of being detained by law enforcement 
. these actions are not only affecting the workers' lives but also the community's businesses 
. we need to stand together with restaurant owners & staff and demand an end to this tactic 
i was at this mexican restaurant in minnesota last year and the staff were so nervous every time ice showed up they cant even come to work cuz of it 
whats wrong with them just doing their job? these owners r already struggling 
This is so messed up! ICE should not be using restaurants as a way to catch people. It's like they're taking advantage of a vulnerable situation 
. It's like, come on! You're scaring people, but what about their families? What about their lives? 
And the fact that these agents are just walking into places and pretending to be customers is totally sketchy, dude. 
We need to support our workers and stand up against ICE's shady tactics.
. I mean, who doesn't love a good drama-filled workplace? Its not like the employees are just trying to make ends meet or anything... they're basically trespassing by working in the country without permission 
. Its not like its affecting anyone but them. The community is just gonna be all like "oh no, our favorite taco spot closed" and then they'll find another one... problem solved 
️
restaurant owners r speaking out and its so inspiring to see them stand up 4 their workers and their community its heartbreaking to think that these workers have to choose between their jobs and freedom 
[GIF: a taco with handcuffs around its middle] 
25k raised for worker's family 
It's so unfair to the workers and owners who are just trying to make a living and contribute to the community. The fact that people are getting detained without explanation or due process is just...wow 
.
. I get that immigration laws need to be enforced, but this is just a mess 
. They're just trying to make a living and provide for their families. The least they deserve is some basic human rights and dignity. And honestly, if I were running one of these restaurants, I'd be super upset too - it's a nightmare scenario for any business owner.
. ICE should be working with the community to help people rather than creating more problems. This is the kind of thing that makes you wonder if they're really interested in enforcing immigration laws or just looking for ways to flex their muscles 
its not fair to the restaurant owners or the employees their lives are bein disrupted for no reason these people need jobs not detention 
.
. They have families to feed too, you know? And it's not just the restaurants that are getting hit – it's the community as a whole. The fear is palpable and it's heartbreaking to see people living in constant uncertainty 
. They're already doing so much for us, and now we need to do the same for them