SAN DIEGO, CA — On May 30, 2025, during the late afternoon and evening in South Park, San Diego, an unacceptable raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took place, prompting community members to unite in defense of those detained by federal agents. South Park, a neighborhood primarily characterized by white, liberal, upper-middle-class residents, witnessed this incident on a Friday afternoon when the community typically gathers to socialize and dine at local establishments like Buena Forchetta. However, this Friday, was marked by a bit more activity in the community.
This drew attention, and the present community faced the challenge and did not tolerate what was happening. Without hesitation, they began to raise their voices in shouts, telling the ICE agents “Shame,” which translates to “Vergüenza” in Spanish. Another notable aspect was the force used by the ICE agents. During this raid, the agents threw three loud bombs that did not stop, intimidate, scare, or deter the community from driving the ICE agents out of their neighborhood.
The united community and their efforts succeeded in forcing the ICE agents to withdraw from their community in South Park, San Diego. No more than 20 minutes later, videos, photos, and messages were shared on social media, highlighting this act as a powerful example of resistance. The community came together and did not accept this type of operation in their neighborhood.
Let us remember that 30 years ago, this neighborhood was considered a working-class community with a notable Mexican population. Over time, gentrification has transformed the area into an upper-middle-class community.
Buena Forchetta opened its doors to the community in 2011 but on this Friday all employees were initially handcuffed, with some seated while the ICE agents conducted their investigations and checked papers. More than 30 uniformed and armed ICE agents were present as if they were in combat. At the end of the raid, four people were arrested, with two of them remaining at the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego. A third person signed for voluntary departure, and there is limited information available about the fourth person.
San Diego residents, dissatisfied with the event, called upon respected activists and human rights defenders to join them at the location, forming a united front to document the situation.
As Pedro Ríos posted on his Facebook account:
“ICE’s HSI unit conducted a raid at a popular restaurant in San Diego’s South Park neighborhood. About three dozen agents, some in full tactical gear, arrested restaurant workers while patrons there and around the area were enjoying dinner. The federal agents didn’t expect a resounding rejection by the neighbors and patrons. The community spontaneously protested the ICE agents. ICE discharged three flash-bang grenades to disperse the crowd. The people instead pushed ICE agents out of their community forcing the vehicles to retreat, shouting anti-fascist slogans. This is the way it should be everywhere.”
To inform people about this raid, social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram were used to communicate the discontent of the San Diego community regarding the situation witnessed by the residents of South Park, informing the entire city about an act of injustice, similar to other recent events that have occurred in San Diego. The response of powerlessness and anger was directed at the presidential agenda of the current administration, perceived as an attack on the working-class immigrant population and even on American citizens, which was seen as an act of cowardice and shame.
Since Friday, May 30, several events have taken place, including the official statement from the restaurant Buona Forchetta on May 31, in which they stated that one of their locations was a site of ICE Enforcement operations, as reported on their Instagram account. ‘At this moment, our priority is not public perception or headlines. Our priority is our people.”
On May 31, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria also released a statement: “What happened last night in #SouthPark undermined trust and left us feeling less safe.” The full statement is available on the mayor’s Facebook page.
Additionally, on June 1, the Buona Forchetta restaurant posted a message on its Instagram account indicating that ” We are closing our doors this Monday and Tuesday- at all our locations across San Diego and Orange County. We wish we could find stronger words, but the truth is we are heartbroken.”
On June 2, local leaders spoke out against the federal immigration raid that took place at the South Park restaurant in San Diego during a press conference. Among those present were Juan Vargas, a member of Congress; Todd Gloria, the Mayor of San Diego; Scott Peters, also a member of Congress; Representative Sara Jacobs; representatives from various churches, community groups, and other individuals. Juan Vargas questioned the document signed by the judge, which indicated that all restaurant employees would be arrested, asking how a judge could sign such an order. Representative Juan Vargas pointed out that this act was a form of intimidation against the community, describing it as an attempt to instill terror and fear. Another strong statement made by Juan Vargas was that the only crime of these individuals is working without documents. To view the full press conference, please visit the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo_530ky7Lk
To conclude this note, four days ago, small business owners from South Park and the surrounding areas set up a GoFundMe page that indicates the account has surpassed $126,105, while the creators’ goal was $60,000. A section of the statement present on the GoFundMe page reads:
“We, as neighbors, small business owners, and fellow South Park residents, are rallying together to offer immediate support to these valued members of our community. Your donation will go directly toward legal fees, lost wages, and essential living expenses for the employees and their families as they navigate this difficult time.”
To read the full statement from this fundraising page, please visit the following GoFundMe page: Support for the Detained Employees of Buona Forchetta.
Videos, photographs, statements, and other examples of evidence regarding what occurred on Friday, May 30, in the South Park community of San Diego, where the community came together and defended itself against ICE agents, have been praised and highlighted as an example of resistance nationwide. They have also served as a testament that when the community unites and demands respect and dignity, significant goals can be achieved. This raid, in which the community succeeded in having ICE agents withdraw, has become a reference point for other regions of the country, providing hope and courage about the power that the community holds, in contrast to the federal agency of ICE, which is under the control of this government, which, in just six months, has violated numerous regulations and has failed to respect the rights and immigration processes of all individuals who have been arrested so far by this government agency.
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