ICE Launches High-Profile Raids on Washington, D.C. Restaurants Amid Immigration Crackdown

Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, May 6, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted a series of targeted inspections at multiple restaurants across Washington, D.C., marking one of the most visible demonstrations of the Trump administration’s renewed immigration enforcement policies. The raids, which focused on verifying employment eligibility through I-9 form audits, have sparked widespread anxiety in the city’s vibrant restaurant industry and drawn sharp criticism from local officials and advocacy groups.

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According to reports from The Washingtonian, ICE agents visited well-known establishments including Millie’s in Spring Valley, Pupatella in Dupont Circle, Chef Geoff’s in Northwest, Chang Chang downtown, and Ghostburger in Shaw. At Millie’s, owner Bo Blair described a dramatic scene where eight or nine agents, some in plain clothes and others armed and in uniform, entered through all public entrances simultaneously as the restaurant opened for lunch. “They provided a ‘notice of inspection’ and asked to question employees,” Blair told The Washingtonian, noting that the general manager found the experience “pretty unnerving.” The restaurant could not immediately produce I-9 forms, which are stored at its corporate office, prompting ICE to announce a follow-up visit.

Axios confirmed ICE activity at several of the same restaurants, reporting that agents demanded employment eligibility documents. At Chef Geoff’s, owned by Geoff Tracy, husband of former CBS Evening News host Norah O’Donnell, no employees were taken into custody, per Fox 5. Similarly, Pupatella’s two D.C. locations were visited for “administrative purposes” related to I-9 forms, with no reported detentions.

The raids follow months of anticipation within D.C.’s restaurant community, which has been bracing for intensified immigration enforcement since President Donald Trump’s return to office. Eater DC reported that restaurants, including Millie’s, have trained staff on how to respond to ICE visits, reflecting widespread fear of such actions. A flyer circulating among workers, as noted by The Washingtonian, advised employees on their rights during raids, including the right to remain silent and request a judicial warrant for entry into non-public areas.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed alarm over the operations, stating, “I am disturbed by them. It appears that ICE is at restaurants or even in neighborhoods, and it doesn’t look like they’re targeting criminals.” Bowser emphasized that D.C. police were not involved in the federal enforcement actions. WUSA9 reported similar sentiments from advocacy groups like Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid, with spokesperson Claudia Tristán noting, “We are dealing with something different this term than what we have seen under previous administrations.”

The operations align with a March 2025 executive order signed by President Trump, which aimed to enhance federal law enforcement in D.C. and enforce immigration laws to the “maximum extent possible,” according to The New York Sun. The order has fueled concerns about racial profiling and community disruption, particularly in a city known for its “sanctuary city” status, which limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Restaurant owners and industry leaders have voiced frustration, arguing that the raids target hardworking employees rather than criminals. “We were under the impression that they were focusing on trying to find criminals,” Blair told Eater DC. “This is just a whole new level of harassment to our hard-working, law-abiding employees.” Shawn Townsend, head of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, told Axios that while the raids were anticipated, they remain “unfortunate.”

Social media posts on X reflected heightened community concern, with users warning of ICE targeting food service and delivery workers, particularly at Subway franchises and among DoorDash couriers. One post by @crepesvites described a recent ICE visit to a Dupont Circle restaurant, urging caution among D.C. residents. However, these reports remain unverified and should be treated as inconclusive.

The raids have amplified fears of labor shortages in an industry already grappling with tight margins and high turnover. A Venezuelan food courier told WUSA9 that fear of ICE enforcement kept many delivery workers home, with only “10%” reporting for work. Advocacy groups like the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) and UNITE HERE Local 25 have urged workers to know their rights, emphasizing the need for a judicial warrant for ICE to access non-public business areas and the right to consult an attorney if detained.

ICE has not publicly commented on the specifics of the D.C. operations, and requests for comment from The Washingtonian, Axios, and the Washington Examiner went unanswered. The agency’s broader enforcement strategy, as outlined in a January 2025 ICE press release, prioritizes public safety threats, but critics argue that the current raids cast a wider net, targeting low-level workers.

As the situation develops, community organizations are mobilizing legal clinics and hotlines to support affected workers. The Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, reachable at (202) 331-3320, has been cited as a resource for detained individuals. D.C.’s restaurant industry, a cornerstone of the city’s economy, now faces an uncertain future as it navigates this latest wave of federal enforcement.

Sources: The Washingtonian, Axios, Eater DC, WUSA9, The New York Sun, and the Washington Examiner.

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