Beloved Taco Chain Closes Doors Due to Ongoing ICE Raids in Los Angeles
A popular taco chain in the Los Angeles area has closed all but one of its locations until further notice due to the ongoing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids throughout Southern California.
Angel's Tijuana Tacos on Thursday night posted a message to its more than 430,000 followers on Instagram to share that the company's lone brick-and-mortar taqueria in Anaheim -- some 32 minutes south of downtown Los Angeles -- is the only location keeping its doors open.
The remaining 15 locations, many of which are taco trucks and taco stands with permanent setups throughout the greater Los Angeles area, will close until further notice. While the beloved taco chain did not directly tie the ongoing ICE raids as the reason behind the closures, the company alluded as much in the post's caption.
"Anaheim is our only location open. ALL other locations will be closed until further notice. We hope to see you soon. Stay safe everyone. ❤️ #angelstijuanatacos #losangeles."
The taco chain, popular in the Mexican community, received an outpouring of support in the comments section.
One follower wrote, "Stay safe and we will miss you guys in the valley ????????." Another wrote, "breaking my heart this even has to happen, miss you guys in glassell," with someone else commenting. "Love you Angel’s! I met my boyfriend in line at your Echo Park stand! Stay safe! ✊????????????????????."
The taco chain's name derives from its perfect emulation of Tijuana-style tacos made with handmade corn tortillas, loaded with guacamole and served on flimsy paper plates. The owner is a 31-year-old whose roots trace back to Guerrero, Mexico. He's famously known only as Taquero Angel, who only weeks ago opened the brick-and-mortar location in Anaheim.
Angel opened his first taco stand in North Hollywood in 2018 and soon enough expanded to 15 stands throughout Los Angeles.
Protests erupted last weekend and in the ensuing days amid masked ICE agents arresting more than 100 immigrants. The majority of the arrests came at their workplace or while they were running errands.
Demonstrators protested the operation, and soon they clashed with law enforcement throughout Los Angeles, prompting President Donald Trump to deploy the national guard. A federal judge on Thursday night blocked the Trump administration from deploying members of the California National Guard in L.A. But within hours, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the ruling, allowing the Trump administration to maintain control of the California National Guard and continue to deploy them in L.A.
The move to deploy the national guard -- coupled with the raids -- has been met with outrage. The Department of Homeland Security vows to continue with the raids amid mounting resistance, though Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday that his administration plans to make changes to his aggressive crackdown in an effort to protect migrant farmers and hotel workers.