ICE is breaking its silence after a recent raid, confirming the Tallahassee Democrat’s reporting that the incident that initially began as a traffic stop escalated into an immigration-enforcement operation at local food establishment Chile & Chili’s Taqueria.
“ICE and the Florida Highway Patrol were conducting targeted immigration enforcement activities on September 25, 2026, when they attempted to make a vehicle stop on a white truck carrying a suspected illegal alien from Guatemala in the vicinity of West Tennessee Street,” an ICE spokesperson said in an email to a Tallahassee Democrat reporter.
“When officers initiated the vehicle stop, the driver pulled into the Chile & Chili’s Taqueria. All the occupants of the vehicle immediately bailed out of the vehicle and started running.”
Locals gather at Chile & Chili’s for an ‘ICE Out: Let Us Live’ rally
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A woman holds two signs during an “ICE Out: Let Us Live” rally held at the West Tennessee Street location of Chile & Chili’s, which has recently closed after workers were detained by ICE, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. One sign reads “Tally loves Chile & Chili’s. We see you, we hear you, we will stand with you.” The second sign reads “Hitler’s playbook: demonize minorities. 70% of detainees have no criminal history.” (Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat)
They also emphasize that they “did not target the taqueria.”
The three include Catherine Rax, who will remain in ICE custody pending immigration proceedings; Reginaldo Quej, who will remain in ICE custody pending removal from the United States; and Erwin Orlando Xoy Acaham, who requested voluntary departure and will remain in ICE custody pending his departure.
While President Donald Trump’s administration has said on multiple occasions that it’s prioritizing the deportation of “the worst of the worst” dangerous criminals, the ICE email only notes that three detained at the taco stand “attempted to flee” and “entered the United States illegally.”
Seen via a video call on an iPad is Catherine Rax, 25, who speaks with the Tallahassee Democrat from the Flagler County Jail after she was detained by ICE, along with two others who worked at Chile & Chili’s with her on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. Five days later, Rax wipes away her tears as she fears for her future.
The emailed statement also included headshot photos of the detained individuals, including Rax with puffy eyes, visibly in tears.
“If you are in the country legally, you have no reason to fear immigration enforcement. Resisting officers and evading arrest is dangerous for our officers, illegal aliens, and the public,” the spokesperson said listing tips and resources on how to “openly defy ICE.”
“Being in detention is a choice. We encourage all illegal aliens to take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $3,000 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return,” they said.
Kyla A Sanford covers dining and entertainment for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at ksanford@tallahassee.com. Let me know at ksanford@tallahassee.com.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: ICE breaks silence, says it did not ‘target’ Tallahassee food truck