Cisco's Workers Arrested by ICE at Austin Tex-Mex Restaurant Amid Rising Immigration Crackdown

Two employees of Cisco's Resturant Bakery and Bar in Austin were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Monday morning at the request of Texas Department of Public Safety officials.

The workers, Ramon Avilez-Frias and Maria Del Pilar Moreno-Loredo, were detained before their shifts at the restaurant, which has been a popular spot for locals and politicians since it opened in 1950. The restaurant's owners said they were 'devastated' by the news and urged the community to show empathy and patience.

According to DPS officials, Avilez-Frias and Moreno-Loredo lacked lawful immigration status and were offered voluntary departure on the same day as their arrest. They will remain in ICE custody until they are removed from the country.

This incident is part of a larger trend in Austin, where there has been a 'sustained increase' in ICE arrests since mid-August, particularly in North Austin, according to U.S. Rep. Greg Casar and Austin City Council Member José 'Chito' Vela. The arrests have also become more visible, with at least four workers being detained outside Austin City Hall during a traffic stop in coordination with ICE.