Democrat San Diego Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera called federal immigration agents “terrorists” after they conducted raids at a popular Italian restaurant in the city’s South Park neighborhood.
At a Glance
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested multiple workers from Buona Forchetta restaurant during a Friday evening raid
- Federal agents used flashbang grenades to disperse an angry crowd that gathered and blocked an unmarked vehicle
- San Diego City Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera harshly criticized ICE, labeling them “terrorists” and advocating for public defiance
- The operation was part of “worksite enforcement operations” according to Homeland Security Investigations, though specific reasons remain undisclosed
- Civil rights advocates are questioning the necessity and timing of the enforcement actions that disrupted dinner service
Federal Agents Execute Raid During Dinner Service
Homeland Security Investigations, a division of ICE, conducted a raid at Buona Forchetta, a popular Italian restaurant in San Diego’s South Park neighborhood. Witnesses reported heavily armed agents in tactical gear entered the restaurant, detaining staff members and checking identification. According to reports, approximately three to four employees were arrested during the operation, with staff and managers placed in plastic handcuffs as federal agents executed what they described as a criminal search warrant at the location.
Claire Cody, a worker at the restaurant, described the chaotic scene that unfolded. “Ten (federal agents) came into part of our restaurant. And they handcuffed my manager, saying they have a search warrant, and I just started crying because I knew what was happening,” she stated. The raid disrupted the restaurant’s normal dinner service, forcing the establishment to close for the remainder of the day as authorities completed their operation.
San Diego Democrat Councilman Calls ICE “Terrorists” After Immigration Raid on Popular Restaurant; Calls for “Fighting Back” https://t.co/AWTJJmpM5J
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Community Confrontation and Response
As word of the raid spread, a large crowd gathered outside the restaurant, with many expressing anger toward the federal agents. The situation escalated when the crowd reportedly blocked an unmarked vehicle carrying agents, leading authorities to deploy flashbang smoke grenades to disperse the protesters. The San Diego Police Department assisted with crowd control but did not participate in the federal operation itself, according to official statements.
“You always see this anywhere else, but then you experience it,” Cody said. “And I’m just thinking about my coworkers and thinking about their families, and this is just very unfortunate and very sad. I’m just praying that they’re OK. I’m OK. And I just feel for them.”
The restaurant’s management initially declined to comment on the incident but later released a statement on Instagram the following morning addressing the situation. The raid has sparked significant community backlash, with many demanding greater transparency about the reasons behind the enforcement action and questioning the tactics used in a normally peaceful neighborhood establishment.
Political Backlash and Ongoing Investigation
The most controversial response came from San Diego City Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera, who publicly criticized ICE as “terrorists” following the raid. His inflammatory comments and call for public defiance against federal immigration enforcement have added fuel to an already tense situation, highlighting the deep political divisions surrounding immigration policy enforcement. The councilman’s statements have drawn both support and criticism from different segments of the community.
“We’re executing a criminal search warrant at the location that we just completed, so we’re getting out,” stated a Homeland Security Investigations special agent at the scene.
ICE’s Deputy Press Secretary has confirmed that the operations were part of “worksite enforcement” activities but stated that no further information is available due to the ongoing investigation. Civil rights advocates and hospitality industry leaders have raised questions about the necessity and timing of such enforcement actions, particularly during busy dinner service hours when numerous patrons were present.
Some observers have speculated about a potential connection to a prior police visit to another restaurant owned by the Buona Forchetta group, though officials have not confirmed any such link.
