ICE Agents Dined at a Minnesota Restaurant — Then Went Back and Arrested the Staff Who Worked There

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers reportedly arrested three staff members from a family-owned Mexican restaurant in Willmar, Minnesota, on Thursday evening—hours after four agents ate lunch at the same establishment.

The incident, captured in bystander photos and videos, has intensified local anger and drawn widespread condemnation amid ongoing protests over the agency’s tactics following last week’s fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.

According to witnesses who spoke to the Minnesota Star Tribune, the agents arrived at El Tapatio around 3 p.m. local time and were seated at a booth. Photos taken by patrons show the officers in uniform, eating and interacting with staff. The restaurant—located approximately 85 miles west of Minneapolis—appeared to operate normally during their visit.

Hours later, around 8:30 p.m., bystanders reported seeing the same agents return after the restaurant closed. They allegedly followed staff members as they left for the evening, arresting three individuals near Willmar Middle School and a nearby Lutheran church. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with the arrested workers visibly frightened.

Bystanders confronted the officers, blowing whistles and shouting: “Would your mama be proud of you right now?” according to the Star Tribune. The identities of those arrested and the specific reasons for their detention have not been publicly disclosed.

Neither ICE nor El Tapatio immediately responded to requests for comment.

Willmar, a city of about 21,000 in Kandiyohi County, has a significant Hispanic population—around one-third of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, with 40% identifying as people of color. The arrests have rattled the community, with many residents viewing the lunchtime visit as a deliberate act of intimidation or reconnaissance.

The incident fits a broader pattern of ICE operations targeting workplaces in Minnesota, particularly restaurants and other businesses believed to employ undocumented immigrants.

CBS News reported that earlier this week, another Mexican restaurant, El Rodeo, in the Twin Cities was forced to close after ICE agents appeared on site. No arrests were made, but staff members were reportedly too frightened to return to work.

In a separate case, Pancho’s Taqueria and Mexican Cafe in Circle Pines saw an employee with legal work authorization detained after ICE waited in the parking lot, according to a GoFundMe page. The restaurant later closed.

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Ongoing “Operation Metro Surge” and Recent Shooting

The arrests follow last week’s fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen and mother of three, by an ICE agent during an operation targeting undocumented Somali immigrants in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

Video of that incident has fueled statewide protests, with critics accusing agents of excessive force and profiling.

DHS has defended the operation as necessary for immigration enforcement and public safety, while local leaders—including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have called for independent investigations.

Thousands of federal officers have been deployed across Minnesota as part of “Operation Metro Surge,” with the administration accusing immigrant communities of fraudulently accessing social services. The heavy presence has created widespread fear, with many immigrants avoiding public spaces and workplaces.

Social media users and local residents expressed shock and anger at the restaurant arrests.

Many questioned the timing and purpose of the agents’ earlier lunch visit. Community members described the operation as intimidation tactics designed to terrorize immigrant families. Advocates called for immediate federal oversight and accountability for ICE conduct.

The incident has further eroded trust between federal authorities and Minnesota’s immigrant communities, with protests expected to continue.

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The Department of Homeland Security has not yet issued a statement on the arrests or the reported lunchtime visit. The situation remains fluid, with local leaders and advocates demanding transparency and justice.