It was a moment of shock and disbelief for one Ohio man when he witnessed the aftermath of an ICE raid at his go-to Mexican restaurant.
The man, who shared his experience on TikTok, was horrified by the lack of empathy from his neighbors regarding the incident.
In his video, the diner, identified as “Matt Daydreams,” recounted the moment when ICE officials raided Cilantro Taqueria, a popular Mexican chain in Cleveland Heights.
The community’s response was less than supportive, leaving Matt confused and upset.
The Impact of the ICE Raid on the Cleveland Community
The raid took place at Cilantro Taqueria, a staple in the Cleveland Heights area, and as Matt learned more about the situation, he began questioning those around him.
As he approached passersby to ask if they’d heard about the raid, he was met with indifference.
“I think I’m gonna sit here and just talk to people as they walk by and see if I can find anyone that seems to care,” he shared.
Unfortunately, his quest to find someone sympathetic to the restaurant workers’ plight came up empty.
“A couple of times, I said: ‘This is really bad, this is terrible, I don’t like this at all,’” he recounted.
But most responses were lukewarm, with people simply shrugging or offering nonchalant remarks like, “Well, then don’t do bad things.”
Cleveland Heights Struggles with Federal Actions
The situation raised eyebrows, especially since Cleveland Heights is a city with a Democratic mayor, where President Joe Biden won by a significant margin in the 2020 election.
Yet, the city insists it had no knowledge of the ICE operation.
According to a statement, “The City of Cleveland Heights did not have prior knowledge of, was not involved in, nor did it cooperate or coordinate with federal officials from ICE in a raid on Cilantro Taqueria.”
The Broader Context of ICE Raids Across the U.S.
The raid at Cilantro Taqueria comes amid the Trump administration’s renewed focus on deportation efforts and heightened border security.
Under the leadership of Trump’s Border Czar, Tom Homan, ICE has been targeting what they call “public safety threats” — undocumented migrants with criminal records.
The administration’s push has been controversial, with liberal critics and celebrities expressing outrage. However, Homan stands firm, asserting that ICE is focused on deporting criminals rather than families, and calling the situation on the southern border a “national security threat.”
ICE and Trump’s Crackdown on Immigration
Nationwide, ICE carried out hundreds of arrests over the weekend, with a particular focus on sanctuary cities that limit cooperation between local authorities and immigration officials.
The Trump administration has intensified efforts to deport individuals who pose a threat to public safety, including convicted criminals and suspected gang members.
Despite facing criticism, the administration has kept up its aggressive approach, promising to increase the daily arrest quotas significantly.
Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration has sparked both support and backlash, as federal agencies work together to target and deport individuals with criminal records.
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