ICE targets DC restaurants, demands to see federal forms proving work authorization for employees

Restaurants across Washington, DC were targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents seeking forms verifying employment eligibility from those working there. 

Per the Washingtonian, among those restaurants visited by authorities were Chang Chang in downtown, Chef Geoff’s in Northwest, Pupatella in Dupont Circle, and Millie’s in Spring Valley. 

Millie’s owner, Bo Blair, said, "They all came in all of the public entrances at the same time." Around eight or nine agents, some of whom wore plain clothes while others wore uniforms and had firearms, came to the restaurant as it was opening for lunch.

The restaurant’s general manager was provided a "notice of inspection" by agents who asked to question employees. Agents reportedly did not push back when the manager said that they could not. 

Marisa Casey, the CEO of Georgetown Events, which owns Millie’s, said, "They made it pretty public that they’re coming back to the restaurant on Monday [to collect the forms], which is pretty unnerving to the staff, obviously." The I-9 forms requested by the agents are kept at the restaurant’s corporate office, not in the restaurant. "We also don’t want them to go back to our restaurants scare everybody."

Agents that went to Pupatella's identified themselves as being with the Department of Homeland Security and requested the I-9 forms says Natasha Neely, Pupatella’s VP of Brand Marketing & Growth. 

Staff at the restaurant asked if the agents had a warrant, to which they said they didn’t and were just doing "administrative work." The staff members referred the agents to corporate, and the agents left.