ICE agents ate at Mexican restaurant in small town then returned hours later to arrest employees
The restaurant has remained closed following last week's arrest
A group of ICE agents are said to have sat down at a Mexican restaurant for lunch in a small town in Minnesota only to return a matter of hours later to detain the employees.
The Minnesota Star Tribune reports that the four agents sat down for lunch at El Tapatio restaurant in Willmar at roughly 3pm local time last Wednesday (January 14).
Come 8:30pm, the ICE agents arrested the employees near a local church and Willmar Middle School, after they closed the restaurant for the evening.
Bystanders are said to have blew whistles at the agents and one witness asked the agents 'would your mama be proud of you right now?', according to the Star Tribune.
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In a statement provided to UNILAD, The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said they had 'conducted surveillance of a target', an 'illegal alien from Mexico'.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said: "On January 14, ICE officers conducted surveillance of a target, Jose Rosario Gomez Gallardo an illegal alien from Mexico.
“Officers observed that the target’s vehicle was outside of a local business and positively identified him as the target while inside the business. Following the positive identification of the target, officers then conducted a vehicle stop later in the day and apprehended the target and two additional illegal aliens who were in the car, including one who had a final order of removal from an immigration judge.
“We encourage all illegal aliens to use the CBP Home app to get a free flight home and $1,000 stipend. By using the CBP Home app, illegal aliens have the opportunity to come back to the U.S. the right legal way and live the American dream.”
Willmar is one of the most diverse cities in Minnesota and El Tapatio, alongside many other local businesses, have since closed their doors following last week's arrest.
One local resident, Brentt Fees, spoke to WCCO and stated he's supporting the Mexican restaurant after the employer allegedly lost 75 percent of its business following Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.
"Just wanted to make sure everything was okay, and apparently it's not because they're closed now," the Wilmar resident said.
Tensions are heightening in Minnesota following shooting fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, earlier this month.
Just two blocks from where the mother-of-three was shot, protests led to one woman allegedly being dragged away by ICE agents in disturbing scenes.
A week after Renee Good was shot, a Venezuelan man was shot by an ICE agent in North Minneapolis - but his identity remains unknown.
ICE in Minnesota: a timeline of events
Dec 2025: Trump sends thousands of ICE agents to Minneapolis
In late December 2025, with reports emerging around January 6 (the five-year anniversary of the Capitol Riots), President Donald Trump sent around 2,000 ICE agents into Minneapolis to crack down on immigration.
This was reportedly due to, more specifically, allegations of fraud aimed at Somalian residents.
Jan 7: ICE agent Jonathan Ross kills Renee Good
On January 7, ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed mother-of-three Renee Good at the scene of an ICE raid in southern Minnesota. Good’s car was stopped sideways, in what is believed to have been an attempt to block ICE agents from passing.
As Good went to reverse her vehicle away from the agents, Ross shot her at least two times, once in the face. Good died at the scene.
Jan 7: Protests break out in Minneapolis
Following the killing of Renee Good, protests broke out in Minneapolis that same night. Protests are still ongoing at the time of writing (January 19), and tensions remain high in the twin cities.
Jan 12: Minnesota sues the Trump administration
On January 12, the state of Minnesota filed a motion in federal court to sue the Trump administration in an attempt to block the surge of ICE agents. Minnesota's Attorney General Keith Ellison said immigration operations have caused ‘chaos and violence’ for millions of people and disrupted their lives.
Jan 13: ICE drags disabled woman from car
On January 13, on a street in Minnesota City, ICE agents were caught on camera dragging an unknown disabled woman from her car. This happened just two blocks from where Good was shot.
The woman shouted at the time: “I’ve been beat up by police before. I’m disabled, I’m trying to go to the doctor up there, that’s why I couldn’t move. I am an autistic disabled person, I’m trying to go to the doctor.”
The Independent reports that ‘tear gas, flash bang grenades and pepper balls were also fired towards the protesters during the stand-off’.
Jan 14: Venezuelan man shot by ICE
A Venezuelan man was shot in the leg by ICE officers on January 14 during an alleged traffic stop. It’s been reported that during the traffic stop, the officer was attacked by another individual in the car with a ‘snow shovel and broom handle’, which is allegedly why they opened fire on two individuals. The man who was shot has not yet been identified.
Jan 15: Trump threatens insurrection
Trump has not reacted well to the protests and took to Truth Social to threaten Minnesota with insurrection. On January 15, he said: “If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT,.”
Jan 18: 1,500 US troops on standby for deployment
On January 18, officials confirmed that 1,500 soldiers are on standby for deployment to Minneapolis. The troops are currently in Alaska, and no official word has been given to send them in as of yet.
Minnesota officials have asked protesters to stay ‘peaceful’ and ‘orderly’. This comes after Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis told ICE to ‘get the f*ck out’.
Topics: Immigration, Minnesota, US News, Business, Food and Drink
Callum Jones