Gardener chased and tackled by immigration agents at Polly’s Pies

(LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA) Federal immigration agents chased and tackled a gardener inside Polly’s Pies in Long Beach on the morning of November 20, 2025, startling diners and two off-duty city police officers in what local officials later condemned as part of a chaotic sweep through the city.

Witnesses said the man, who had been working as a gardener in a nearby neighborhood, ran into the restaurant’s waiting area as immigration agents followed close behind. The confrontation unfolded at the popular family restaurant on Atlantic Avenue in the Bixby Knolls area, where families were eating breakfast and staff were preparing for the busy late-morning rush.

Two Long Beach Police Department officers, who were eating in the dining room, turned toward the commotion as the gardener was tackled in front of the hostess stand, according to several people present. One officer briefly drew his gun, apparently not realizing who was involved, then holstered it again after seeing badges on the immigration agents, witnesses said.

Workers at Polly’s Pies later notified the man’s family that he had been taken into custody, while shaken customers tried to process what they had just seen. Outside, marked vehicles linked to immigration enforcement were visible in the parking lot, part of what residents now describe as a morning of fear for many immigrant workers in Long Beach.

What happened that morning — sequence of events

1. A gardener working in a nearby neighborhood was followed by federal immigration agents.
2. The gardener ran into Polly’s Pies on Atlantic Avenue in Bixby Knolls.
3. Immigration agents chased him into the waiting area and tackled him in front of the hostess stand.
4. Two off-duty Long Beach Police Department officers present as diners witnessed the incident; one briefly drew his firearm before seeing immigration badges.
5. The man was taken into custody; restaurant staff notified his family.
6. Marked immigration enforcement vehicles were seen in the parking lot; community members reported multiple detentions across the city.

Scope and community reaction

• City leaders and residents say the restaurant incident was not an isolated event but part of a string of raids carried out the same day, reportedly targeting gardeners and other workers across different neighborhoods.
• Several people were detained, according to accounts shared with local officials and community groups.
• The visible presence of federal vehicles and the arrests led many to describe the morning as one of fear for immigrant workers.

“Residents had described agents following Latino gardeners from job sites and waiting near popular breakfast spots.”
— Remarks echoed by local officials and community members

Official responses

• District 5 Councilmember Megan Kerr (represents the area including Polly’s Pies) called the actions cruel and racially targeted, citing reports of agents following Latino gardeners from job sites and waiting near breakfast spots.
• Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn condemned the raids, urged immigration agents to leave the region, and argued residents’ rights had been violated.
• The Long Beach Police Department stated it does not take part in immigration enforcement, citing the city’s Values Act policy, which limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration officers.
  • The department emphasized its officers at the scene were present as customers and did not assist in the arrest.

Impact on the community

• For workers from mixed-status families, the sight of immigration agents inside a neighborhood restaurant deepened fears that once-safe public spaces may no longer offer even brief protection.
• Social media posts indicated residents now hesitate before stopping for breakfast or coffee if they see work trucks or gardening crews gathering nearby.
• Several gardeners and day laborers told organizers they plan to avoid certain streets, parks, and restaurants where they fear future operations might occur.

Legal context

• The raids occurred amid an ongoing legal fight over the scope of federal immigration stops based on appearance, language, or job type.
• Long Beach is part of a lawsuit seeking to block roving patrols — tactics where agents stop and question individuals away from border crossings.
  • Plaintiffs argue roving patrols lead to racial profiling of Latino residents and day laborers.
• A temporary block on those patrols was lifted by the U.S. Supreme Court in September 2025, allowing agents to resume the tactic while the case proceeds.

Advocates’ concerns and practical challenges

• Advocates say the Polly’s Pies scene is what they warned about: federal officers entering everyday spaces, detaining workers who have little opportunity to speak with a lawyer, and leaving families scrambling to learn detainees’ locations.
• Analysis by VisaVerge.com indicates community members in similar cases often struggle for days to confirm whether relatives are held locally or moved to distant detention centers.
• Witnesses described children crying and adults shielding them as the gardener was pinned to the floor. Others hesitated to film out of concern that recording might cause further trouble.

Guidance from local organizations

Local immigrant-support groups urge people who observe such arrests to:

• Write down details of the event (time, location, vehicle descriptions, badge/agent details).
• Stay calm and avoid confrontation.
• Later consult with lawyers or advocacy organizations that track enforcement patterns.

They point residents to public Department of Homeland Security resources, including civil rights information from the agency’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.

Questions left unanswered

City officials now face renewed pressure to clarify the line between local policing and federal immigration enforcement. Although Long Beach leaders reiterate that local officers are barred from acting as immigration agents, the image of a city officer with a drawn gun near a federal arrest inside a busy restaurant has raised broader concerns:

• Can residents safely call police when they witness crimes or need help without fear that immigration agents will appear?
• How will officials ensure transparency about the interactions between federal agents and community spaces?

Current status and what’s next

• As the lawsuit over roving patrols proceeds and local leaders seek more information about the Polly’s Pies incident, families of those arrested on November 20 are waiting for calls from detention officers and searching for legal assistance.
• Their futures may depend not only on federal court rulings but also on how local and federal agencies respond going forward.

For many who watched or later heard about the arrest, the scene has become a symbol of how quickly ordinary routines can be interrupted when immigration agents act inside spaces that once felt separate from federal enforcement. Residents say they are still waiting for answers, and for change.

Key people and entities mentioned

If you’d like, I can:
– Create a printable one-page summary for distribution to community groups, or
– Extract key steps for bystanders to follow if they witness similar enforcement actions.