ICE agents detained several employees at the popular South Park restaurant Buona Forchetta on Friday night, disrupting what is typically a bustling dinner service. The enforcement operation also affected the adjacent Enoteca Buona Forchetta.
According to restaurant managers, three employees were arrested as ICE officials entered the venue demanding identification from all staff members. Witnesses described the incident as chaotic, with a crowd forming around the ICE vehicles and video footage showing a flash bang device being deployed.
The restaurant, which is known for its multiple locations across the San Diego area, had to close its doors for the evening, leaving tables vacant and a “closed” sign displayed prominently at the entrance.
ICE confirmed that they conducted the worksite enforcement operations, but they did not release additional details as this investigation is ongoing, according to Deputy Press Secretary Yasmeen Pitts O’Keefe.
This recent event is a continuation of similar ICE operations in the San Diego area. Just two months earlier, 15 undocumented migrants were detained at an industrial paint shop in El Cajon, and only last week, ICE agents were observed detaining migrants at an immigration courthouse following the dismissal of their asylum cases.
The impact of these operations raises questions about the broader implications for local businesses and communities, highlighting the ongoing tension surrounding immigration enforcement. It also reflects the challenges that restaurant owners face in navigating legal complexities amidst enforcement actions.