Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County (trfnews.i234.me) — Don Pablo’s Mexican Restaurant has closed its Fergus Falls and Detroit Lakes locations. The owners said the move was tied to reports of ICE activity in the area.
The restaurant posted on Facebook that it was “closed until further notice.” The post blamed “unforeseen family” issues. A second post was shorter. It said, “We are closed.”
After the posts, a restaurant representative spoke with local media. The representative said the closure was due to ICE activity. The person said the goal was safety for workers and guests.
What the restaurant said
The representative described a call from an unknown man. The caller asked if the restaurant was open. He also asked if ICE was nearby.
The representative said they had not seen ICE. The call ended quickly. The representative said they then chose to close.
The representative said they feared for customers and staff. The person added a short warning. “Nobody is safe,” the representative said.
Don Pablo’s thanked customers for support in its Facebook message. You can view the related posts and reporting here: Valley News Live
and the restaurant’s page: Don Pablo’s Detroit Lakes on Facebook.
Federal response in Minnesota
The closure came as federal immigration activity in Minnesota drew wide attention. On the same day, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said more federal officers would be sent to Minnesota.
Reuters reported that Noem said “hundreds more” officers were being added. The report tied the move to safety concerns for federal staff.
Readers can learn more about ICE and its public mission here: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
A broader national report on federal activity in the Twin Cities is available here: PBS NewsHour.
What happens next
The restaurant did not give a reopening date. The posts said the closure would last “until further notice.”
Don Pablo’s has served diners in Fergus Falls and Detroit Lakes for years. Detroit Lakes is in Becker County. Fergus Falls is in Otter Tail County.
Customers who had planned visits are encouraged to check official updates. The fastest updates are typically posted on the restaurant’s Facebook pages.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.