Video shows Florida food truck workers fleeing from ICE during Tallahassee immigration raid
ICE Raid on Tallahassee Food Truck Spurs Community Rally
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Friday, September 23, federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a raid on the Chile & Chili’s Taqueria food truck, located on Tennessee Street in Tallahassee. Security footage captured in the incident shows employees scrambling to exit the truck’s trailers as agents approached, and a woman worker being taken into custody by the authorities.
Three of the individuals detained were identified as Guatemalan nationals who had not yet finalized their immigration paperwork, according to the food truck’s owner who spoke with WCTV. The owner also said that the raid prompted the closure of the food truck, citing safety concerns for staff and the fact that the remaining employees had quit following the event.
The raid and its aftermath have sparked a response from local activists and community organizers. A group of organizers announced plans to hold an anti‑ICE rally at the former food‑truck location on Wednesday, September 28. The rally is part of a broader effort by the Tallahassee Immigrant Rights Alliance and the restaurant’s own social‑media outreach to protest federal immigration enforcement actions.
In an Instagram post shared by Chile & Chili’s and the Tallahassee Immigrant Rights Alliance, the organization called out federal agents: “ICE has been attacking our neighbors and destroying our community for too long!” The post also urged residents to attend the rally: “We need to show up and demand ICE Out! We’ll be holding a rally at Chile & Chili’s, one of many local businesses and families under attack by ICE. Join us in showing support as we build towards a place where everyone can be free to live!”
In the wake of the raid, the food truck has launched a GoFundMe campaign that has raised nearly $13,000 in just a few days. The fundraiser aims to support affected employees and their families, and to help the business recover from the raid’s disruption.
ICE officials have not yet released a statement regarding the operation. The agency’s website lists the raid as part of its broader efforts to enforce immigration law in commercial settings, though details of the specific enforcement action in Tallahassee remain unpublicized.
The incident has drawn attention from both local residents and state‑level officials. While the Tallahassee Immigrant Rights Alliance calls the raid an attack on community members, other voices in the region have called for a more nuanced discussion of ICE’s role in enforcing immigration policy. No official statements from the state Department of Homeland Security or the mayor’s office have been issued in response to the raid.
The upcoming rally on Wednesday is expected to bring together local activists, former employees of the food truck, and residents who feel impacted by federal enforcement actions. Organizers say they hope the demonstration will raise awareness of the challenges faced by immigrant workers and will push for policy changes at both the state and federal levels.
The raid on the Chile & Chili’s Taqueria food truck highlights the ongoing tension between federal immigration enforcement and local communities in Florida. As the community prepares for the rally, the focus remains on the safety and well‑being of the workers who were caught in the crossfire of a federal operation.