False rumors of an immigration raid at one Miami’s most iconic Haitian restaurants put its owner in the spotlight this week, but it was his comments on President Donald Trump that drew even more attention his way.
This week, 350,000 Haitians lost immigration protections with the end of Temporary Protected Status, opening many up for deportation. Fear and anxiety in the community led to reports of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid at Chef Creole, a popular Haitian restaurant.
Wilkinson Sejour, a Haitian-Bahamian chef and owner of all seven Chef Creole restaurants in South Florida, went to the press to clear up the situation. He said ICE incorrectly detained (and then released) a Hispanic man passing by the restaurant.
Even without a raid, he told reporters that the end of TPS led several of his employees to quit. Even employees with legal status were afraid to come to work, he told the Herald.
READ MORE: ‘Implementing terror’: Miami business owners feel the pain of losing TPS workers
He also told CBS Evening News that he regretted voting for Trump in 2024.
“I was under the impression, like everyone else, that him being a business person that he understands how business is conducted and how he’s able to grow and make businesses more effective,” Sejour said on Wednesday.
As temporary protected status benefits are lifted for over 300,000 Haitians, the U.S. could feel the impact across the nursing industry, hotels, and more. pic.twitter.com/aEYnDkVEYh
— CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil (@CBSEveningNews) August 5, 2026
The clip of Sejour’s comment racked up views and comments on X and Instagram, drawing commentary from locals who were shocked to hear this from Sejour, whose restaurant has been a staple in Little Haiti since it first opened in 1992.
“Oh chef creole is never seeing me again…” said one X user in response.
In response to the backlash, Sejour told the Miami Herald he believes that his decision to vote for Trump shouldn’t destroy the trust he’s built throughout Miami over the 34 years his restaurants have been in business.
“I don’t see where there is mistrust,” he said. “My decision to vote for a candidate that I believed would make a difference did not take away the scholarship funds that I put forth every year to further their education. I’m an advocate for situations and issues that affect our communities. Not many restaurants can say they fed 2,000 TSA workers when the government shut down.”
The management teams at all seven Chef Creole locations have quit, Sejour said. In their absence, other employees are doing their work.
“We’re moving people around,” he told the Herald. “The food may take just a little bit longer.”
During his most recent run, the president campaigned on ending TPS for Haitians and amplified a debunked conspiracy theory that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Illinois kidnapped and ate wildlife, including pet cats and dogs. Behind closed doors, Trump has also reportedly referred to Haiti as “a shithole country” several times, including once moments after a 2016 campaign event in Little Haiti.
“Whether you vote for me or not I really want to be your biggest champion,” Trump told the crowd of Haitian Americans at the time.
With the loss of TPS and the chilling effect on his staff and customers, Sejour told CBS that he may be forced to close two of his restaurants.
“The end of TPS, to me, means that my future in the hospitality business is going to be almost non-existent,” he said.
This story was originally published August 9, 2026 at 3:47 PM.
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Miami Herald
Michael Butler writes about minority business and trends that affect marginalized professionals in South Florida. As a business reporter for the Miami Herald, he tells inclusive stories that reflect South Florida’s diversity. Just like Miami’s diverse population, Butler, a Temple University graduate, has both local roots and a Panamanian heritage.