Minneapolis restaurant owner's testimony about ICE agents in town: 'I'm afraid they're going to pick up my employees'

Michael Knox, the co-owner of a fast-food restaurant on the outskirts of Minneapolis, a city at the center of immigration enforcement operations, says his business has suffered from ICE raids and is working 16-hour days to cover shifts for employees too scared to leave the house, Business Insider reports.

Protests in the city of Minneapolis PHOTO EPA-EFE

Toma Mojo Grill, a fried chicken restaurant, is located in Richfield, a suburb south of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The story was published by Business Insider as a report based on an interview with the restaurant's co-owner, Michael Knox.

“With ICE agents in the area, I don't know when — or if — the staff will come to work. We all have pretty busy schedules and we're very tight-knit. There's only six of us working here, seven days a week. And I worry: Will my employees be stopped on their way to work? Will they be harassed or detained? Will they come back?

This happens every day. In the last two weeks, we have adjusted our schedule: we open later and close earlier. I took over everyone's shifts, but I can't physically handle 16 hours a day, seven days a week. We had to close last week so I could take a day off. I had a doctor's appointment that I couldn't miss.

Some of my employees are afraid to leave their homes. If they let me know they can't come to the restaurant, my policy is naturally “no questions asked.” I understand them. But I'm not a wealthy businessman. If we don't serve customers, no money comes in and we can't pay people. I wish we could offer better vacation benefits, but that's not the case. It was difficult for us.

We're just trying to keep people safe and ensure the comfort of our employees. We have a large window in the front of the restaurant, through which you can see the entire kitchen. I'm planning to make some changes so that you can't really see everything from the outside. We don't know who is watching now or for what purpose. We installed cameras that we didn't have before – we have to keep video records of everything that happens here.

ICE agents are bad for business regardless of why they come to the restaurant

I'm afraid ICE agents are going to come to my restaurant to pick up my employees. At the same time, I worry that they will come to enjoy the hospitality, and this will be found out. I can only do what I think is good for me, my employees and the restaurant. ICE agents are bad for business, regardless of why they come.

Last week my sales were down about 40% from last year. There are fewer delivery people and temporary workers, which is why our takeaway is being picked up late. And our brick-and-mortar business suffers: after the sun goes down, we see an almost noticeable drop in sales. This did not happen before. Now, loyal customers haven't come to us for weeks.

Last week, I participated in the walkout in Minneapolis with my friends and family to express our dissatisfaction with the situation. Along with my employees, I thought it was important to close on that day. Such a decision on a Friday in January is devastating. It's that busy day that secures our money for the rest of the week. It's a big sacrifice – but I know it's important.

What is happening in Minneapolis should horrify all Americans. The fear of what will happen next is real and pervasive. It's bad for business. It's bad for living. And I fear that more lives will be lost.

Small business owners are brave people. It takes a lot of courage to risk everything to do something you really want, to offer a product or service that you think is good enough to be paid for. I'm not the type of person to keep quiet. It doesn't surprise me that they are making their voices heard.”