Restaurants in Minneapolis and St. Paul report sharp declines in customers and staffing problems after increased ICE enforcement. Owners describe measures such as locked doors, reduced hours and a shift to takeout-only service, while some have stopped accepting walk-ins after encounters with alleged ICE agents. Restaurateurs compare the atmosphere to the isolation of the COVID era and are training family members or planning contingencies to keep businesses running.
‘We’re Back to COVID’: Twin Cities Restaurateurs Say ICE Raids Are Crushing Business
Deporting illegal immigrants and enforcing the border has been a flagship campaign promise of President Trump since he first announced his candidacy in 2015.(Getty Images)
Restaurants across Minneapolis and St. Paul say recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity has driven away customers, disrupted staffing and forced major operational changes. Owners from Latin-American and Somali communities told the Star Tribune they are taking steps to stay open amid growing fear and uncertainty.
Operational Shifts and Staffing Strains
Many establishments report locking doors to screen patrons, reducing hours, switching to takeout-only service, temporarily closing dining rooms and consolidating space. Several restaurant owners said they are short-staffed because employees are afraid to come to work for fear of immigration enforcement.
President Donald Trump's use of ICE has been criticized as excessive by people on the political left, and insufficient by many on the political right.
“I’m a really positive guy, but I’m also very realistic. This is not something that’s gonna be done in a week, so we’re just preparing for the hit now,”
Diaz said the mood in neighborhoods resembles the isolation of the pandemic: customers who once returned to restaurants now avoid leaving their homes. Another restaurateur, Miguel Lopez of Homi Restaurant in St. Paul, summed it up: “We are pretty much back to COVID.” Lopez said friends and regulars have been stopped and asked for documentation while on their way to the restaurant.
Encounters With Alleged ICE Agents and Community Response
Some owners reported incidents involving people who identified themselves as ICE agents. Venezuelan-born Soleil Ramirez of Crasqui said she stopped accepting walk-ins after a man who identified himself as an ICE agent dined there; community members later gathered in support and stayed until closing. Ramirez said she has trained family members to run the business as a contingency plan.
Many of President Donald Trump's critics on the left say that ICE is arresting illegal immigrants who have committed no crime other than illegally immigrating to the United States.
“I need to have a plan B as a business person. But also as a human,”
Impacts on Other Communities
At Albi Kitchen, a cafe known for Somali sweets and sambusas, owner Fardowsa Abdul Ali said a viral video tied to a nearby daycare brought harassment and a sharp drop in customers. She has received unwanted phone messages and said she cannot afford security, leaving her feeling vulnerable.
“I don’t feel safe, to be honest. I came to this country to be safe, not scared,”
Outlook
Restaurateurs are adapting to an uncertain environment by consolidating operations, training family members as backups and relying on community support when possible. Owners say the effects on small businesses are immediate and severe, and many expect the disruption to continue unless enforcement patterns change.
Reporting: The Star Tribune.
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