(Updated May 9, 2025)
A surprise wave of federal immigration enforcement swept through Washington, D.C., this week, as agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) visited over 100 local restaurants in a single day. The unannounced inspections, which began Tuesday morning, left restaurant owners, employees, and patrons stunned — and raised new concerns about the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration tactics.
Among the establishments visited were popular eateries like Chef Geoff’s, Millie’s, Pupatella, and Ghostburger. In each case, agents requested I-9 employment verification forms but made no arrests. Some restaurants were told agents would return within days to collect additional documentation.
The visits were part of a broader “worksite enforcement” initiative, according to DHS. In a statement, the agency said the operation was designed to ensure businesses comply with U.S. immigration and employment laws. However, many restaurant owners described the visits as disruptive and intimidating.
Bo Blair, owner of Millie’s in Spring Valley, said eight agents entered his restaurant through multiple doors just as it was opening for lunch. “They asked to speak to employees,” Blair said. “We told them no.” The agents then requested employee records, which were not kept on-site.
The sudden inspections have had immediate consequences
Some employees have not returned to work, citing fear and uncertainty. “Two people didn’t come into work today,” Blair noted. “We’re concerned with people being too scared to come into work.”
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed strong disapproval of the raids
“I have heard those reports. I’ve been getting them all morning. I am disturbed by them,” Bowser said. “It appears as though ICE is at restaurants, or even at neighborhoods, and it doesn’t look like they’re targeting criminals, and it does look like they’re disrupting.”
The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington also criticized the approach
Shawn Townsend, the association’s president, stated, “There is a sense of fear. It’s alarming, it’s concerning. Immigrants make up a large amount of workers in our restaurants in the district. I think there could have been a better way to get the information that these ICE agents, from what I’m told, were looking for.”
This enforcement action is part of the Trump administration’s intensified efforts to bolster border security and enforcement within the U.S. These operations have included visible warnings of future raids and community apprehension that led to canceled Cinco de Mayo celebrations.
As the city grapples with the aftermath, many are left questioning the broader implications. The raids have not only disrupted business operations but have also instilled fear within immigrant communities, highlighting the human cost of such enforcement strategies.
