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ICE Activity Leads to Temporary Closure of El Maguey in O’Fallon
O’FALLON, Mo. – El Maguey, a popular restaurant located on Highway K in O’Fallon, Missouri, closed its doors temporarily on Thursday after reports surfaced alleging that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested several employees.
As news spread rapidly on social media, local residents drove past the restaurant throughout the morning to see what was happening.
Autumn Emery, a loyal customer, shared her perspective, saying, “I grew up just down the road from here. I come to eat here at least once or twice a week.”
By Friday, the open sign at El Maguey illuminated once more. Employees, who spoke off-camera, confirmed that ICE had indeed conducted operations on Thursday, resulting in the detention of three workers. However, they noted that all three were released and returned to work by the following day.
Efforts to obtain confirmation from ICE and the Department of Homeland Security regarding the arrests have so far been unsuccessful.
Rebecca Wu, a public affairs officer for the FBI’s St. Louis division, indicated that the FBI is collaborating with the Department of Justice and other federal agencies to support immigration enforcement activities. However, when asked for details specific to El Maguey, Wu referred inquiries to the Department of Homeland Security, the agency leading the efforts.
On Friday, business at El Maguey remained subdued, as many patrons were hesitant to visit in light of the recent events. An owner of a nearby business remarked on the situation, noting a significant decline in customer traffic. As an immigrant himself, he chose to remain anonymous to avoid drawing attention to his own establishment.
“I can definitely see less spending; people are reluctant to go out,” he expressed. “If they don’t go out, then there’s no business. In 35 years, I have never experienced anything like this.”
The atmosphere at El Maguey was tense, with many customers expressing concern for the workers. One individual stopped by to distribute “Red Cards,” which are educational materials designed to inform immigrants about their rights during encounters with law enforcement. Another regular, Amber Emery, emphasized her connection to the employees, stating, “Let’s keep our heart on our sleeves for this community that doesn’t deserve this.”
Source
www.yahoo.com