ICE Raid at Buona Forchetta Reveals Employee Mistreatment

Categories: Breaking NewsCrimeGovernment NewsNews

The Buona Forchetta restaurant in South Park, San Diego, where recent ICE operations have caused community concern.

News Summary

A recent ICE operation at Buona Forchetta in San Diego uncovered four undocumented workers and allegations of employee abuse, sparking community backlash. Local officials criticized the raid as harmful to trust in the community, while ICE defended its actions as necessary for law enforcement. The restaurant temporarily closed in response and expressed support for its detained employees. Community fundraising efforts have raised significant amounts to assist those affected, highlighting concerns over immigration policies and worker rights.

San Diego ICE Raid Uncovers Undocumented Workers and Alleged Employee Mistreatment at Buona Forchetta

A recent operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Buona Forchetta, an Italian restaurant located in South Park, San Diego, led to the detention of four undocumented workers and brought to light allegations of employee mistreatment. The raid occurred on May 30, 2025, and has resulted in significant community concern regarding immigration enforcement tactics.

The investigation began following a tip received on November 1, 2020, which claimed that the restaurant employed undocumented immigrants and suggested that owner Matteo Cattaneo mistreated employees. Reports indicated that Cattaneo was alleged to have required staff to work longer than 12-hour shifts without mandatory breaks and had verbally abused them.

On January 31, 2025, a follow-up tip from Homeland Security Investigations reiterated concerns that Buona Forchetta continued hiring individuals without proper documentation. Subsequent investigations revealed that an alarming 19 out of roughly 40 employees had reportedly submitted fraudulent green cards, indicating a significant proportion of the workforce was potentially unauthorized. Examination of the warrants uncovered discrepancies in the counterfeit documents, such as incorrect font positioning, inconsistent hologram imagery, and low-quality photographs.

During the investigative process, it was identified that seven of the employees had utilized fraudulent documentation along with a background of immigration violations. The identities of twelve additional individuals were not able to be positively confirmed. Surveillance operations commenced on May 22, 2025, leading up to the raid.

On the day of the raid, four employees, primarily dishwashers and servers, were detained; three were Mexican nationals and one from Colombia. One detainee is reported to have possibly self-deported, while the others are being temporarily held at the Otay Mesa Detention Center.

The operation has sparked backlash from local officials and community leaders. San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera characterized the raid as “state-sponsored terrorism,” voicing concern over its impact on community trust and cohesion. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria echoed these sentiments, expressing apprehension about the negative implications of such enforcement actions on the overall safety and reliability of local establishments.

In defense of ICE’s tactics, the acting director, Todd Lyons, emphasized that agents face threats while enforcing immigration laws, suggesting that the agency’s actions were necessary for maintaining legal order.

As a result of the raid, Buona Forchetta has temporarily closed all its locations to allow staff members to process the events and resulting impact on the community. The restaurant has expressed deep sadness over the situation and has indicated its commitment to supporting the detained employees and their families through legal counsel and resources.

A community effort to raise funds for the workers has already gained significant traction, exceeding its initial goal by raising over $71,000 to provide assistance to those detained. This organizational support highlights the community’s solidarity and concern for the individuals affected by the raid.

Critics of the operation have called into question both the legality and the humanity of ICE’s actions, advocating for alternative approaches that could have achieved the same ends without the militarized response that characterized the raid. Continuous discussion surrounding these events reflects the ongoing debates about immigration policy and worker rights affecting local economies and communities.