San Diego mayor releases statement on smoky ICE raid in South Park
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria is speaking out against a federal immigration enforcement operation that took place Friday afternoon at two well-known eateries in the South Park neighborhood.
Federal agents carried out the raid at Buona Forchetta and Enoteca Buona Forchetta, prompting swift backlash from local leaders and community members. In a statement issued Saturday, Mayor Gloria criticized the timing, nature and impact of the operation.
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'Like many San Diegans, I was deeply upset by Friday night's immigration enforcement operation at Buona Forchetta and Enoteca Buona Forchetta in South Park,' Gloria said. 'Federal actions like these are billed as a public safety measure, but it had the complete opposite effect.'
The mayor described the raid as damaging to public trust and counterproductive to community safety, emphasizing that it stoked fear rather than security.
'What we saw undermines trust and creates fear in our community,' he said.
Gloria added that he personally raised his concerns with Homeland Security Investigations leadership on Saturday morning. He vowed to continue advocating for policies that prioritize 'respect, dignity, rights, and security' for all San Diegans.
Loyal customers lined up at the restaurants on Saturday to show their support, many of them expressing outage regarding the incident.
As it stands, officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement say an investigation into the controversial operation is ongoing.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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