Four ICE agents ate lunch at El Tapatio, a family-owned Mexican restaurant in Willmar, Minn., on Jan. 14 and later returned to detain several employees after following them when the restaurant closed. DHS says officers were "conducting surveillance of a target" identified as Jose Rosario Gomez Gallardo and that a subsequent vehicle stop led to detentions, including one person with a final order of removal. The incident has heightened community fear, prompted business closures, and comes amid protests after two recent shootings involving ICE agents in the Minneapolis area.
ICE Agents Dined at Small Minnesota Mexican Restaurant — Returned Hours Later to Detain Staff
Google MapsEl Tapatio restaurant in Willmar, Minn.
Four Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents ate lunch at El Tapatio, a family-owned Mexican restaurant in Willmar, Minn., on Jan. 14 — and later returned that evening to detain several employees, according to local reports.
What Happened
Eyewitnesses told the Minnesota Star Tribune and WCCO that the agents sat together in a booth at El Tapatio just before 3 p.m. Staff reportedly appeared nervous while the officers were dining. Around 8:30 p.m., after the restaurant closed for the night, the agents followed some employees and detained them near a local church and Willmar Middle School.
Official Account
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told People that ICE officers were "conducting surveillance of a target" identified as Jose Rosario Gomez Gallardo. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said agents observed the target's vehicle outside a local business and positively identified him while he was inside the restaurant. A later vehicle stop reportedly resulted in the detention of the target and two other people, including one person with a final order of removal from an immigration judge.
Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via GettyFederal law enforcement agents during a raid in south Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 13, 2026.
Community Reaction
Bystanders who saw the detentions blew whistles and shouted at the agents; one person reportedly asked, "Would your mama be proud of you right now?" El Tapatio has since closed temporarily, and other businesses in the diverse Willmar community remained shut in the wake of the arrests. Residents have described lost business and heightened fear among immigrant families.
Context
The Willmar detentions occurred amid heightened tensions in Minnesota after two recent shootings involving ICE agents in the Minneapolis area: the fatal shooting of Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross, and a separate shooting of a man in North Minneapolis about a week later. Those incidents sparked protests and renewed calls from local officials for federal agents to leave the city. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the city filed litigation seeking to end ICE's deployment and urged calm while affirming support for immigrant and refugee communities.
Ongoing Developments
Local coverage indicates the incident has had ripple effects for small businesses and prompted public demonstrations. DHS and ICE statements describe the operation as target surveillance leading to a vehicle stop; local witnesses emphasize the alarm felt when officers were seen inside a neighborhood restaurant earlier in the day. Reporting is based on eyewitness accounts, local media coverage and official statements.
"We understand there is anger. We ask the public to remain calm," the City of Minneapolis said in a statement following the second shooting.
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