ICE Eats at Mexican Restaurant and Later Arrests Employees
Posted on01/18/26 at 11:34
- ICE Arrests Restaurant Employees
- Employees Followed and Detained
- Community Responds With Protests
Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reportedly arrested three employees of a Mexican restaurant on the outskirts of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The incident occurred Thursday night, just hours after federal agents had lunch at the same establishment.
The restaurant is El Tapatío, a family-owned business located in Willmar, about 135 kilometers west of Minneapolis.
According to witnesses, the agents’ presence began around 3:00 p.m., according to MSN.
ICE Arrests Restaurant Employees After Visit to El Tapatío Restaurant
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained three workers from the Mexican restaurant El Tapatío in Willmar, Minnesota, on Thursday night.
According to witnesses cited by the Minnesota Star Tribune, four agents ate lunch at the restaurant hours before carrying out the arrests… pic.twitter.com/D4UIuOAzfm
— La Jornada (@lajornadaonline) January 16, 2026
Four ICE agents sat in a booth inside the restaurant, according to accounts cited by the Minnesota Star Tribune.
During that time, restaurant staff appeared visibly nervous, according to people who witnessed the scene.
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Witnesses took photographs of the agents inside the restaurant and recorded videos of what happened later.
Some described the atmosphere as tense and said the employees appeared “frightened.”
No arrests were reported inside the restaurant during the afternoon. The situation changed several hours later, late in the evening.
What Is Known About the Arrest
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Around 8:30 p.m., witnesses said they saw ICE agents arrest three restaurant employees.
The arrest took place near Willmar Senior High School and a Lutheran church.
According to accounts, agents allegedly followed the workers after the restaurant closed.
It is unclear how long the operation lasted or how many officers were directly involved.
People who witnessed the detention reacted immediately.
Some blew whistles while agents carried out the arrest.
Others shouted phrases directed at the officers.
Among the shouts, witnesses reported hearing: “Would your mother be proud of you now?”, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.
The identities of those detained have not been confirmed.
The reasons for the arrests have also not been officially disclosed.
So far, authorities have not stated whether the detainees face specific charges.
No public statements have been issued explaining the operation.
Context and Versions
There are no words. ICE agents ate lunch at a small local Mexican restaurant in Minnesota, enjoyed their meal, then came back later that night as the restaurant was closing down and arrested the people who had served them. pic.twitter.com/AiCzp49d8d
— Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@ReichlinMelnick) January 16, 2026
After the arrests, unconfirmed reports began circulating about a broader federal deployment in Minnesota.
According to those reports, thousands of Department of Homeland Security agents were allegedly sent to the state.
The supposed operation would be targeting migrant communities.
The allegations mentioned include alleged abuse of social services and systematic fraud.
These claims have not been confirmed by official sources.
The alleged operation has been referred to as “Operation Metro Surge.”
According to the same reports, the operation has caused chaos in several cities across the state.
There have been reports of an increase in violent confrontations between civilians and ICE agents.
Protests have also been reported in different parts of Minnesota.
The demonstrations are reportedly linked to the death of Renee Good.
Good, 37, allegedly died after being shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis last week.
No further official details have been released about that case.
The arrest of El Tapatío employees occurred amid this tense climate.
The lack of confirmed information has fueled uncertainty within the local community.
So far, authorities have not clarified whether there is a direct connection between these events.