ICE raids Harlan Mexican Restaurant (WYMT-KY)

ICE raids Harlan Mexican Restaurant
Officials with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided a Mexican restaurant in the City of Harlan. The restaurant has been closed since early this afternoon.

Posted: 6:26 PM Aug 10, 2011
Reporter: Katie Roach

Officials with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided a Mexican restaurant in the City of Harlan.

The restaurant has been closed since early this afternoon.

Police say this raid happened as a part of the investigation into three people who were arrested on the rape and kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl last week.

After looking into the case, many police officials in the city and the county attorney decided to contact ICE because they believed the subjects were here illegally.

The sign says open, but as people walked up to the door on Wednesday, they quickly realized it wasn't.

"Several subjects were apprehended that they believe were here illegally," said City of Lynch Police Chief Mike Nunley.

ICE shut down El Charritos Wednesday morning, which came as a shock to those inside.

People who were inside the restaurant at the time said right after they got their food a man with a badge walked in. He started to talk to some of the workers, and then they said some of the workers started to run.

"We know that they took 13 individuals from the restaurant today, and they are being taken to the immigration headquarters for processing," said Nunley.

Nunley also said ICE took another individual into custody at a court hearing on Monday for two of the men charged with rape and kidnapping.

Nunley says Gustabo Salinas and Marcos Lopez are still in the Harlan County Detention Center, and they are still being charged with rape and kidnapping.

He also said that some federal charges could be added to them as well.

Both investigations are still ongoing at this time.