Full Breakdown
ICE Raid Prompts Closure of Tallahassee Food Truck
By Drooid · · How we work
ICE Raid Leads to Shutdown
Security video captured Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents confronting workers at Chile & Chili’s Taqueria on Tennessee Street in Tallahassee. The footage shows employees fleeing as officers entered the food-truck area, and a woman being taken into custody. According to the owner, three of the workers detained were Guatemalan nationals whose immigration paperwork was still pending. Following the raid, the owner announced the truck would close because the remaining staff—who are legally present in the United States—quit.
Owner and Staff Response
The owner told WCTV that the three detained individuals were in the process of finalizing their immigration status and that one was transferred to Walton County. She said the decision to shut down was driven by safety concerns after the raid and the subsequent staff departures. No comment was received from Homeland Security Investigations when asked for confirmation.
Community Reaction and Protests
Local residents expressed disappointment, noting the food truck had been a gathering place. “It brought me and my mom and my family together. It brought me and my boyfriend together. I’m saying it brought the whole community,” said Zwane Queeley, a Tallahassee resident “It brought me and my mom and my family together. It brought me and my boyfriend together. I’m saying it brought the whole community,” — Zwane Queeley, a Tallahassee resident. The Tallahassee Immigrant Rights Alliance, led by president Aedan Bennett, announced plans for a rally at the truck’s location to draw attention to the incident and to oppose further ICE actions.
Financial Aftermath
Chile & Chili’s launched a GoFundMe campaign after the raid; the fundraiser has collected nearly $13,000 to support the owners and staff during the shutdown.
What’s Next
Organizers from the Tallahassee Immigrant Rights Alliance intend to hold a protest on Wednesday at the former food-truck site. The rally aims to highlight concerns about immigration enforcement and to pressure local officials for greater protection of immigrant-owned businesses.