ICE agents ate at Mexican restaurant in small town then returned hours later to arrest employees

According to multiple news outlets, four agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sat down for lunch at El Tapatio, a family-owned Mexican restaurant in Willmar, Minnesota, on January 14. Witnesses told reporters the staff appeared fearful as the agents ate. (uk.news.yahoo.com)

A few hours later, after the restaurant had closed for the evening, the agents are said to have followed several of the restaurant’s workers and detained them around 8:30 p.m. near a local church and middle school. (uk.news.yahoo.com)

Who Was Detained?

Local reports say three individuals connected to the restaurant — including owners and a dishwasher — were detained by ICE. The exact immigration status of those taken into custody has not been fully confirmed in open sources, but there are indications that at least one had a deportation order issued previously by an immigration judge. (uk.news.yahoo.com)

Community Reaction

Bystanders at the scene reportedly expressed frustration and dismay. Some blew whistles and shouted questions at the agents, including “Would your mama be proud of you right now?” as the arrests took place. (Star Tribune)

The incident has also contributed to growing anxiety in the Willmar area, where several immigrant-run businesses have temporarily closed amid heightened immigration enforcement efforts in Minnesota. Residents say families and workers are now more fearful of leaving their homes or going about daily activities. (https://www.whsv.com)

Official Explanation

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security stated that the officers were conducting surveillance of a targeted individual — identified as an undocumented person — and that a vehicle stop later in the day led to detaining that person along with two other individuals, one of whom had an existing final removal order. Authorities say the agents did not make the arrests inside the restaurant itself. (https://www.whsv.com)