A local Tucson, Arizona-based Mexican restaurant, Taco Giro, temporarily closed all eight of its locations following a large-scale U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid on the company’s restaurants, as well as nearby residences. A media statement from ICE confirmed that the Dec. 5 operation resulted in the arrest of 46 individuals from Mexico, most of whom were employees at Taco Giro, local news reports stated.
According to Green Valley News, Cesar Rodriguez, director of operations for Taco Giro, said that about 10% of the company’s employees were arrested after the raid.
“There were a lot of false allegations that we were drug smuggling and child trafficking,” Rodriguez said.
On Dec. 7, Taco Giro’s Instagram page posted a statement confirming the closures, though did not specifically mention the immigration operation.
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“Our restaurant will be temporarily paused while we take a short pause to make a few necessary adjustments so we can continue offering the warm service and unique flavors you love,” the restaurant’s post reads.
ICE officials claim that the targeted raid was the result of an investigation into “a criminal organization involved in labor exploitation, tax violations, and immigration violations,” referring to the “family-owned restaurant chain operating in and around the Tucson area.”
ICE and local media also confirmed that the raid was interrupted by mass protests, which resulted in the arrest of two citizens and the use of non-lethal weapons. Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) posted a video claiming that when she was at the scene of the arrests and protests, she presented herself as a member of Congress and was pepper sprayed — a claim that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) denies.
On Dec. 9, Green Valley News reported that Taco Giro had since reopened three of its locations, though as of Tuesday, five remain closed as the restaurant deals with the loss of many employees. The rest, Rodriguez said, will open “little by little.”
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