Thread: Feds raid eastern KY restaurant, detain 13

Feds raid eastern KY restaurant, detain 13
Posted: Aug 12, 2011 12:04 PM EDT Updated: Aug 12, 2011 12:05 PM EDT

HARLAN, Ky. (AP) - Federal immigration officials raided an eastern Kentucky restaurant, detaining 13 people as part of what law enforcement called part of an ongoing investigation.

Lynch Police Chief Mike Nunley told The Harlan Daily Enterprise (http://bit.ly/r3fJNL) that the raid, at the El Charrito restaurant in Harlan, took place just after noon Wednesday.

Nunley said there is an investigation into illegal immigration in the area.

The raid follows the arrest of 3 Mexican nationals in Harlan on charges of first-degree rape and first-degree unlawful imprisonment involving a 13-year-old girl. 2 of the men worked at the restaurant.

El Charrito co-owner Francisco Roman said the restaurant closed because it had no employees after the raid.

Information from: Harlan Daily Enterprise, http://www.harlandaily.com

http://www.kfvs12.com/story/15257097/fe ... -detain-13

Updated: 11:27 PM Aug 18, 2011

Harlan Mexican restaurant back open


A Mexican restaurant in Harlan County is back open after US

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials raided the restaurant last week.

Posted: 6:40 PM Aug 18, 2011
Reporter: Katie Roach


A Mexican restaurant in Harlan County is back open after US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials raided the restaurant last week.

Thirteen workers were taken from the restaurant last Wednesday by ICE after questions arose about if they were legally allowed to be in the US.

Now, some of those workers are back at El Charrito.

El Charrito opened it's doors Thursday for the first time in over a week, and people waited in line just so they could get their Mexican fix.

"We're getting ready to go in here and stand in line and wait," said one customer.

We tried to speak to owner Fransisco Roman, but he declined an interview because he doesn't speak good English.

Tony Noe is a spokesperson for the owner, and he told the Harlan Daily Enterprise that three of the workers signed deportation documents and have been sent back to Mexico.

The other ten were back at work Thursday, but Noe could not say for sure whether they were allowed to be working.

Despite questions of whether or not workers at El Charrito are US citizens, customers we spoke with today are just happy the restaurant is back open.

"We're real happy it's the only place else we have to eat besides Ken and Paul's Steakhouse," said customer Adam Sharp.

"It's the nicest restaurant, they meet and greet people good. It's the only place we eat around here," said customer Allen Fee.

The El Charrito in Cumberland is still closed at this time. There is no word on when it will reopen.

Mountain News is getting some conflicting information with this story.

We've been trying to contact ICE for the past week, and they finally called us back today.

They said they could not release any information because they do not have the lead on the case.

An ICE representative said ICE is only assisting the Harlan County Sheriff's Office and local police.

The Harlan County Sheriff said they had nothing to do with the case, but the Lynch and Benham Police Departments were working on it.

Lynch City Police Chief Mike Nunley said he is working on the case, but can not release any details at this time.

http://www.wkyt.com/wymtnews/headlines/128039928.html