ICE Agents Eat at Mexican Restaurant, Then Detain Workers

In an incident that has drawn widespread attention and criticism, four U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents sat down for lunch at El Tapatio, a family-owned Mexican restaurant in Willmar, Minnesota, on January 14, 2026 — only to return later that evening and detain three of the restaurant’s workers after the business had closed for the night.

According to the Star Tribune reporting, the agents arrived at the small-town restaurant at roughly 3 p.m. local time and ate together in a booth. Witnesses told local media that the presence of federal officers caused anxiety among staff, who were aware that they were immigration agents. Hours later, around 8:30 p.m., the officers followed employees as they left work and carried out detentions near a Lutheran church and Willmar Middle School. By that time, the restaurant had closed, and the arrests took place in public view as sympathetic onlookers blew whistles and protested the arrests.

Who Was Targeted and Why

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provided a partial explanation for the actions. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said that the ICE officers were conducting surveillance of a specific target — identified as Jose Rosario Gomez Gallardo — and that they observed his vehicle parked outside the restaurant during their earlier visit. Agents later stopped the target’s vehicle and detained him along with two others, including one person with a final order of deportation. DHS stated that the restaurant itself was not the official subject of a workplace raid.

While officials framed the detentions as part of routine targeted surveillance and enforcement activity, the optics of eating at a restaurant before returning to detain employees have drawn criticism and concern from residents and advocacy groups alike. Witnesses reported that the restaurant staff appeared “frightened” during the lunch visit, even though no arrests were made at the time.

Community Reaction: Fear and Protest

In Willmar — a city of about 21,000 people with a notably diverse population that includes Latino, Somali, Karen, and other immigrant communities — the detentions have triggered alarm and anger. Local residents and bystanders confronted the officers as they made arrests, with one witness yelling, “Would your mama be proud of you right now?” as federal agents carried out detentions.

Some community members said the incident has fueled a pervasive sense of fear, with families hesitant to leave their homes and businesses struggling as immigrant employees stay away. Other nearby businesses temporarily closed or adjusted operations following the event. Willmar’s mayor, Doug Reese, urged residents to maintain calm and respect peaceful protest while reminding the community that ICE is a federal law enforcement agency carrying out federal responsibilities.

Broader Enforcement and Political Backdrop

The Willmar restaurant incident comes amid a broader surge of immigration enforcement activity across Minnesota following controversial federal deployments under the Trump administration. In recent weeks, multiple incidents involving ICE agents — including violent encounters and contentious detentions — have sparked statewide debate and peaceful demonstrations. This escalation has included heightened presence of federal agents in both urban and rural areas, leading to legal challenges and calls for greater protections for workers and immigrant communities.

Critics argue that actions like the restaurant detentions erode community trust and create a climate of fear, particularly in regions reliant on immigrant labor in restaurants, construction, and other service industries. Supporters of aggressive enforcement cite the need to uphold federal immigration law and target individuals who have violated it, defending surveillance and detention operations as lawful. (general reporting context)

Restaurant Closure and Economic Impact

In the wake of the arrests, El Tapatio remained closed for several days, citing concerns over staffing and community safety — a sign of the economic ripple effects such enforcement actions can have in small towns. Residents noted that many immigrant-owned restaurants and establishments in greater Minnesota are seeing reduced foot traffic and staffing shortages due to heightened fear of immigration enforcement.

Local business owners told reporters that customers are uneasy, and certain restaurants have even changed their hours or service models to cope with declining business, underlining the broader impact such operations are having on everyday life in these communities.

Legal and Ethical Questions Raised

While ICE has legal authority to conduct surveillance and detain individuals suspected of immigration violations, critics argue that tactics perceived as deceptive or intimidating — such as eating at a venue before returning to make arrests — risk undermining community cooperation with law enforcement and raising ethical questions about enforcement methods. Immigration and civil-rights advocates are calling for clearer transparency, better protections for workers, and more communication about when and how such operations are conducted.

You might also want to read: ICE Agent Claims He Makes “$200K” in Viral Protest Video