Brooklyn Park coffee shop owner: ICE lied to employee before detention

(BROOKLYN PARK, MINNESOTA) Federal immigration agents detained an Ecuadorian cook at a Brooklyn Park coffee shop on Friday after, according to the business owner, officers posed as customers for about an hour and then used a made-up parking lot story to draw workers outside, where the man was handcuffed and taken away.

What happened at Crumbs & Coffee

Crumbs & Coffee co-owner Charles Spies said the enforcement action happened on December 12, 2025, between 10 and 11 a.m. at the shop on Zane Avenue N. Spies accused ICE of lying to his employee by claiming a car had been hit in the lot and asking staff to come out to deal with it.

Spies said agents posed as ordinary customers inside the shop for about an hour before another agent arrived and summoned workers outside. He said his cook stepped out and “was handcuffed and detained immediately upon exiting,” leaving other staff shocked and scrambling.

Worker’s status and employer response

• The detained worker, whom Spies did not name, reportedly had a valid work permit and a Social Security number.
• Spies said the worker was in the asylum process and had a recent court date; he expected paperwork after that hearing but “never received” it.
• The co-owner emphasized that the shop checks documents before hiring and that he knew the cook from a prior job.
• Spies described the cook as part of the “Crumbs & Coffee work family” and said the arrest left him sad and angry, arguing it targeted someone who was working and trying to follow the rules.

Immediate impact on employees and business operations

The scene inside and outside the shop rattled employees and disrupted operations almost immediately.

• One worker suffered exposure during the encounter and required hospital treatment.
• Another employee hid during the event and was later taken to safety.
• Staff were told to go home, and the coffee shop closed abruptly that day.
• The shop remained shuttered the next day because there were not enough workers to open.

For a small business, even a single unexpected detention can break a week’s schedule: lost hours, lost wages, and customers arriving to locked doors.

Public reaction and political attention

On Saturday, DFL State Sen. John Hoffman visited the coffee shop and described what he saw in a Facebook post that brought renewed attention.

“A small business. Taxpayers. People who invested in our community, created jobs and served their neighbors every day… This isn’t right. And it’s not who we should be targeting if we care about safe, strong communities,” Hoffman wrote.

Hoffman said the shop appeared deserted, with the door open, money on the counter, and coats draped over booths. Spies, however, said the open door Hoffman saw was caused by a delivery person and was not related to ICE.

Questions left unanswered by ICE

ICE did not respond to requests for comment about Spies’ allegations, including the claim that agents posed as customers and used a false story to get workers into the parking lot.

Without an agency statement, key details remain unclear:

• Whether ICE had a warrant
• Who was being sought
• What information agents relied on

Still, the account from the business owner and images shared by a state senator have fueled local concern about how enforcement is carried out and who gets swept up.

Legal and practical context for employers and immigrants

The incident highlights a common point of confusion: having a job and holding work authorization does not always prevent arrest by immigration officers.

• Asylum seekers can apply for work authorization while their cases are in immigration court.
• Many receive documents that allow them to work and get a Social Security number.
• However, immigration status can still be contested in court, paperwork can be delayed or lost, and people can miss notices or deadlines for reasons beyond their control (moving, changing phones, not receiving mail).

That gap between “allowed to work” and “safe from arrest” can be hard for families and employers to grasp until a raid or workplace pickup happens.

Finding a detained person and why speed matters

For the detained worker’s loved ones, one of the first problems is locating the person and reaching them. The U.S. government provides an official tool:

• ICE Online Detainee Locator System — can help families and attorneys search for someone in ICE custody by name and country of birth or by an “A-number”, if available.

Immigration lawyers often warn:

1. Early hours matter — detained persons may face fast-moving steps.
2. Bond decisions and court dates can come quickly.
3. Missing a hearing can trigger a removal order.

Broader reactions and analysis

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, stories like the Crumbs & Coffee case spread quickly because they sit at the crossroads of work, community safety, and trust in government.

• A routine morning at a neighborhood counter can become a high-stakes immigration event.
• The aftershocks affect co-workers, customers, and the broader community.

In Brooklyn Park, the shock was visible in the shop’s sudden closure and Hoffman’s description of a space left midstream — coats on booths, cash left out — an ordinary business day snapped in two.

For immigrants across the United States who are in asylum cases, the episode is a reminder that even when people believe their case is on track, confusion over paperwork and court notices can collide with enforcement. A single encounter on Zane Avenue N. can upend a job, a workplace, and a community’s sense of calm overnight.

Key takeaways

• Work authorization does not guarantee safety from arrest.
• Employers and employees should be aware of the difference between permission to work and immigration case status.
• Families and attorneys should act quickly to locate detainees using the ICE Online Detainee Locator System.
• The incident underscores the broader community effects when immigration enforcement happens at everyday workplaces.