A dramatic Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid at Buona Forchetta’s flagship South Park location has sent shockwaves through San Diego, forcing the closure of all the restaurant’s locations in the region for several days The incident unfolded late Friday afternoon, when heavily armed ICE agents executed a criminal search warrant, detaining four employees—three from Mexico and one from Colombia—on allegations of working without proper documentation.
According to newly unsealed search warrants, the investigation began with a tip in 2020, claiming Buona Forchetta and Enoteca Buona Forchetta employed undocumented workers using fraudulent green cards. The warrants allege owner Matteo Cattaneo knowingly hired these workers and subjected them to 12-hour shifts without breaks A follow-up tip in January 2025 led to the recent enforcement action, with agents giving the restaurant three days to produce employment authorization documents.
The raid quickly escalated as community members gathered, confronting agents and attempting to block their vehicles. ICE agents used flash-bang grenades to disperse the crowd, and videos of the standoff went viral, drawing national attention and sparking heated debate among local officials and residents San Diego’s mayor and city council members condemned the tactics as excessive, arguing the operation instilled fear and undermined community trust.
As Buona Forchetta remains closed through at least Tuesday, the company says it is working with attorneys to support detained employees and their families. The investigation is ongoing, with the community anxiously awaiting further developments.
