Three people — including an employee at Central Diner — were taken into custody Monday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Robinson.
According to a statement, ICE officers were carrying out “a targeted immigration enforcement operation” aimed at locating “a previously removed illegal alien.”
In the area of Westpointe Drive, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents attempted to stop a vehicle tied to the man they were seeking, according to an ICE spokesperson.
“The driver entered the parking lot at Central Diner, and he and three other occupants fled from law enforcement into the building,” the statement said. “In response to this potentially dangerous situation, an officer entered through the public entrance to notify restaurant management and request consent to search for the fleeing subject.”
While officers were “attempting to secure the area,” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said an employee at Central Diner “assaulted an ICE law enforcement officer” — an act the agency said is a felony crime.
According to the statement, the officer was stationed at the restaurant’s rear entrance when the employee told the officer they were not permitted to be there.
“When officers attempted to place the individual under arrest for assault on a federal officer, the individual resisted but was ultimately taken into custody,” ICE said of the employee. “ICE successfully arrested two illegal aliens, including the previously removed target.”
The Central Diner management was not immediately available to return TribLive’s request for comment Wednesday.
