Parking Lot Arrest Sparks Fear

Police U.S. Border Patrol uniform close-up.

ICE agents arrested a legal worker from a Minnesota Mexican restaurant after surveilling the business, sparking outrage as surveillance video captured his desperate screams for help during the detention.

Story Highlights

Legal worker “Kevin” arrested at Pancho’s Taqueria despite having valid work permit
Surveillance video shows him screaming “Ayuda!” as plain-clothes agents detained him
Community raised over $21,000 through GoFundMe for his family and legal defense
Multiple Twin Cities Mexican restaurants closing due to worker fear following ICE operations

Legal Worker Targeted in Parking Lot Arrest

On Tuesday evening at approximately 5 p.m., ICE agents in plain clothes detained Kevin, a legally present employee at Pancho’s Taqueria & Mexican Café in Circle Pines, Minnesota. The agents had been observing the parking lot for roughly 20 minutes before approaching Kevin as he accessed a storage unit. Surveillance footage captured the dramatic moment as Kevin screamed “Ayuda!” (Spanish for “help”) while agents removed him from the property, causing him to lose his cell phone, glasses, and hat during the struggle.

Kevin was transported to the Whipple Federal Building that evening and moved to El Paso within 12 hours of his arrest. The rapid deportation occurred despite Kevin holding a valid work permit and having a wife and children in Minnesota. Unlike typical ICE raids involving mass arrests, this operation specifically targeted a single legal permit holder in a public parking area, raising questions about enforcement priorities and procedures.

Community Mobilizes Support Amid Restaurant Closures

The arrest triggered immediate community response, with a GoFundMe campaign raising over $21,000 for Kevin’s family and legal expenses. The incident reflects broader impacts across Twin Cities Mexican restaurants, where fear has led to operational disruptions and closures. El Rodeo in Maple Grove experienced similar challenges after an ICE visit earlier in the week, with the restaurant going dark due to staffing shortages as workers became afraid to leave their homes.

Community members stepped up to help affected businesses, with 75 volunteers signing up within 90 minutes to fill shifts at El Rodeo, many offering unpaid assistance. A separate GoFundMe for El Rodeo quickly raised over $6,000 to support the struggling restaurant. Customers like Ivette Chatman and Carol Olson praised the workers’ diligence while condemning the fear-induced closures that have disrupted normal business operations throughout the Twin Cities area.

Heightened Enforcement Follows Fatal ICE Shooting

The arrest occurred amid intensified ICE operations following the January 7 fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in south Minneapolis. DHS officials alleged Good struck an agent with her car during an operation, causing internal injuries, while Democrats characterized the incident as “murder,” sparking widespread protests. Additional tensions arose after a January 14 incident where agents shot a Venezuelan man in the leg during a traffic stop, which officials claimed was self-defense.

These enforcement actions have created a climate of fear that extends beyond undocumented workers to legal permit holders like Kevin. The incidents tie into broader Minnesota immigration tensions, including DHS claims that hundreds of “criminal aliens” were released under Governor Walz’s policies. Federal agents maintain authority to operate in public areas without warrants, though they remain barred from entering private restaurant zones without proper legal authorization.