ICE agents ate at Mexican restaurant in small town then returned hours later to arrest employees

It started as a lunch, the kind of routine that usually means nothing more than tacos, salsa, and a quick break before the rest of the day. But in Willmar, Minnesota, a group of ICE agents reportedly sat down at El Tapatio restaurant around 3pm last Wednesday, then returned hours later to detain the employees. Witnesses say people outside blew whistles, and one person even asked the agents, “would your mama be proud of you right now?” The situation got even messier when DHS described it as surveillance tied to a specific target and claimed the vehicle stop led to multiple apprehensions.

And now the whole town is left watching a familiar neighborhood spot shut down, while questions linger about how a lunch turned into an arrest scene.

That 3pm lunch at El Tapatio is the part people can’t stop replaying, especially after the agents came back at 8:30pm.

Main Story

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).

Key Point 2

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?

Once the restaurant doors were shut and the arrests happened near the church and Willmar Middle School, the whistles and that “would your mama be proud” moment took over the story.

Key Point 3

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.

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Key Point 4

“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.”

DHS later framed it as surveillance of Jose Rosario Gomez Gallardo, but the timeline still leaves locals asking why the lunch stop came first.

Key Point 5

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.

With El Tapatio reportedly closing and other businesses following suit, the fallout hits Willmar hard, fast, and in public.

Key Point 6

"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.

Key Point 7

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.

In a small town, even dinner plans can turn into a headline.

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