In Los Angeles, immigration enforcement at restaurants is rare but not impossible. ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has been known to conduct operations targeting specific individuals, and sometimes these actions can lead to the detention of other people as well. If ICE visits a taco shop or any restaurant asking for employee papers, it is crucial to understand your rights and the legal limitations of such actions.
How ICE Raids Work in Los Angeles
While large-scale immigration raids have taken place in states like Mississippi, they are uncommon in California. Instead, ICE tends to conduct smaller, more targeted “Enforcement Actions.” These raids typically focus on a specific individual who may have a criminal record or unresolved immigration issues. However, in some cases, permanent residents and visa-holders have also been detained.
KIWA (Korean Immigrants Workers Advocates) emphasizes that even people without deportable offenses have been caught in these operations. This makes it important for everyone—restaurant owners, employees, and customers—to know their rights.
5 Legal Steps to Protect Yourself and Others
Whether you are a restaurant owner, employee, or customer, you have rights if ICE enters a restaurant. Here are five key ways to protect yourself:
1. Stay Silent – You Are Not Required to Answer Questions
Neither customers nor restaurant owners are legally required to answer ICE’s questions. You have the right to remain silent, and refusing to respond cannot be used against you.
2. Record Everything on Your Phone
If an ICE raid occurs, take out your phone and start recording. Legally, you have the right to document public events, and video evidence can help ensure that laws are not being violated.
3. Restrict Access to Private Areas
ICE agents cannot legally enter non-public areas of a restaurant, such as the kitchen or office, without a judicial warrant. If they attempt to do so, employees and owners have the right to deny them access.
4. Do Not Sign Any Documents
ICE may present documents for people to sign, but no one is obligated to sign anything. Signing without legal advice can lead to unintended consequences, including self-incrimination.
5. Verify the Warrant
In most cases, ICE presents an “ICE-generated memo” rather than a legitimate judge-signed warrant. If ICE has a real warrant, they will usually be accompanied by local law enforcement. Always ask to see a warrant before allowing any access to employees or private areas.
Does ICE Work with Local Police in Los Angeles?
Despite common beliefs that L.A.’s police forces do not cooperate with ICE, they do, to some extent. KIWA has reported that sheriff’s departments sometimes transfer detainees to ICE or inform ICE about their release times. While cooperation has decreased, it has not been completely eliminated.
If ICE visits a taco shop or any other restaurant in Los Angeles, knowing your rights can make a significant difference. Whether you are an employee, business owner, or customer, staying silent, recording the event, and verifying legal documents are essential steps. Understanding the legal boundaries of ICE’s authority can help prevent unnecessary detentions and ensure that everyone’s rights are protected.
