DENVER (KDVR) — A Mexican restaurant in Frisco remains closed after it said it was the focus of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Summit County last week and had items seized by agents under a search warrant.
“We want to share with you that Hacienda Real is currently going through a process that began after an anonymous call was made reporting that we had undocumented workers in our restaurant,” the eatery said on Facebook. “For several months, we have been cooperating with the authorities and providing all documents requested by ICE. Unfortunately, this process led to a broader inspection of the restaurant.”
The presence of federal law enforcement in the area was confirmed by the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, which said it was informed of the ICE operation in Summit County on Tuesday through a call to dispatch as the operation began. Homeland Security Investigations agents, which act as the investigative arm of ICE, were seen in the area.
The sheriff’s office said ICE was in the area to serve search warrants connected to a criminal investigation, not civil immigration enforcement. The sheriff’s office also said it responded to a call for service at Straight Creek Drive to ensure “community safety by helping with crowd and traffic control.” The sheriff’s office said that it “did not provide any support or assistance for the operation, nor did ICE request any.” Colorado law prevents law enforcement from working with federal partners on civil immigration matters.
FOX31 reached out to ICE to confirm the operation and received the following statement:
“I can only confirm that agents from Homeland Security Investigations were executing a search warrant as part of a criminal investigation,” an ICE spokesperson said Tuesday, a week after the operation occurred in Summit County.
Videos shared on social media showed citizens yelling at the ICE and Homeland Security Investigations agents as they stood outside Hacienda Real. One video appeared to show residents pounding on the windows of unmarked law enforcement vehicles.
Nonprofit Voces Unidas, which is an organization founded by Latina and Latino leaders in Glenwood Springs promoting organizing, advocacy and nonpartisan voter engagement programs, said that it had confirmed two people were arrested during the Frisco ICE operation using information in the ICE system.
The Summit County Sheriff’s Office also said that ICE “publicly stated that no arrests were made.” The county agency cautioned residents that ICE, as a federal agency, can “operate anywhere and at any time under their legal authority.”
“This is likely not the last time we see ICE in our community,” the sheriff’s office said on Facebook. “When such incidents occur, it is best to have a plan, understand your rights, and remain calm and peaceful.”
Hacienda Real said that the restaurant’s work equipment was taken during Tuesday’s operation, which includes the computers used daily.
“For this reason, we must remain temporarily closed while everything is being reviewed,” Hacienda Real wrote. “We find peace in knowing that for more than 22 years we have worked with honesty, serving the community we deeply love. Today, more than ever, we are grateful for your understanding and support. We hope to return soon to doing what we do best: working hard and sharing our food with all of you.”
Many Facebook users shared the restaurant’s post with friends and family, saying the restaurant’s workers are “hard-working people,” and that the restaurant “does a lot of good for the community,” among other comments supporting the restaurant.
Rumors of ICE action in Summit County have abounded in recent weeks. On Sept. 11, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office said that it was aware of a rumor that ICE detained people at the Summit County Detention Facility, and said the rumor was not true.
“While the Sheriff’s Office does not typically respond to rumors, we recognize the stress these particular rumors are creating for our community and hope this message eases some of that concern,” the sheriff’s office said.
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