ICE Investigates Tucson’s La Indita: A Hub of Indigenous Culture and Activism Under Scrutiny

Denise Schafer, owner of La Indita, a well-established Tucson restaurant, faced an unexpected visit from federal agents on Tuesday afternoon. Three agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), arrived at her establishment, coinciding with the Trump administration’s aggressive enforcement measures targeting undocumented migrants and those with criminal records.

As the agents inquired about employees, an employee alerted Schafer, prompting her and operations manager Shawn Soulsby to rush to the restaurant to address the situation. Upon arrival, they were presented with paperwork containing several inaccuracies that had been hastily amended by hand.

Schafer described feeling intimidated by the agents, particularly due to their unorthodox approach, appearing without uniforms and pressuring her for identification and signatures. However, the presence of attorney Stacy Scheff proved pivotal as she intervened, questioning the legitimacy of the notice presented by the agents.

According to Schafer, the lead agent claimed affiliation with HSI rather than directly with ICE. During the encounter, she expressed concern that their scrutiny might stem from the restaurant’s focus on Indigenous cuisine or its support for a school in northern Sonora, as well as La Indita’s previous partnership with various activist groups in the area.

The agents handed Schafer a notice of inspection, which legally required her to provide employment documentation within three days. Small businesses can choose to maintain paper records instead of using E-Verify, a government database for verifying employee eligibility.

Notably, this incident reflects a broader trend, as Schafer noted that she feels her business was targeted due to her lack of E-Verify usage and its community-oriented mission. Scheff echoed these sentiments, indicating that recent ICE activities emphasize intimidation rather than legitimate investigations into wrongdoing.

Schafer had initiated an internal audit of employee records in April, post-Trump’s executive orders on immigration enforcement, but was caught off guard by the sudden inspection. “We wanted to be prepared, but didn’t expect it would happen so soon,” she remarked.

The ramifications of the current enforcement climate are evident. Alba Jaramillo, the executive director of the Immigration Law and Justice Network, highlighted a significant shift in ICE’s approach under the new administration. Under this strategy, agents not only target individuals with criminal histories but also conduct widespread inspections of businesses to enhance the number of deportations.

Jaramillo described a “chilling effect” within immigrant communities, underscoring how federal agents are not just visiting businesses but also homes. As this scrutiny intensifies, undocumented workers and their employers face the continual threat of raids and fines.

Locally, at least four Tucson businesses have already faced inquiries. Jaramillo noted that many small businesses remain reluctant to speak out against these inspections due to fears of backlash, creating an atmosphere of silence and apprehension.

As the situation continues to evolve, businesses and advocates call for greater transparency and protection for immigrant communities amid these heightened enforcement actions.