Federal immigration authorities raided a Mount Vernon, Ohio, Mexican restaurant last week, investigating reports of “undocumented immigrants,” and the city initially misidentified the agency that spearheaded the operation.
City officials said in a statement that they learned of the raid at Pancho’s Tacos around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. However, they contend they did not have information about the raid or coordinate with federal authorities.
While the city initially said Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the raid, the Detroit Office of Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. According to the city, “the action was based on a tip related to the employment of undocumented immigrants,” and it remains “an ongoing criminal investigation.”
In Mount Vernon: ICE conducted an operation at Pancho's Tacos, detaining several employees. One worker was injured. City officials stated they were not informed of the operation. Updates to follow. #KnoxPageshttps://t.co/dbYMLqt9db
— Source Media Properties (@SourceMediaProp) October 9, 2025
“The City of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Police Department, and the Office of the Law Director did not receive communication or coordination from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials regarding the timing, scope, or nature of this operation,” the city said in its initial statement.
“The City of Mount Vernon is committed to seeking more information from the agencies involved,” the city added. “The City remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting our citizens, upholding the rule of law, and, above all else, defending the Constitution of the United States and the principle of due process for all individuals.”
The city subsequently removed its statement and issued a follow-up statement clarifying which federal agency was involved.
The feds alerted local officials about the raid by said the didn’t need help, The Columbus Dispatch reported. The sheriff told the outlet that he complied with a request not to share information about the operation.
“When the federal government tells you not to do something, you kind of do what they request,” Knox County Sheriff Dan Weckesser told the newspaper.
While authorities did not announce how many people they arrested, restaurant owner Tim Carper told Crawford County Now that authorities detained several workers in the raid, which happened by about 11 a.m. on Thursday, before the restaurant opened. In the wake of the raid, the restaurant, which reportedly opened in 2024, closed, at least temporarily.
“Temporarily closed until further notice,” the restaurant said in a social post, the Mansfield News Journal reported. “We apologize for any inconvenience amigos!”
