Arizona Restaurant Sparks Backlash for Offering Free Meals to ICE Agents
The quiet community of Catalina, Arizona, has once again become the epicenter of a fierce national debate.
Jorge Rivas, the El Salvadoran immigrant owner of Sammy’s Mexican Grill, is facing an intense new wave of boycotts and threats after publicly inviting ICE agents to eat for free at his establishment.
Rivas, a long-time supporter of President Trump, has doubled down on his stance, arguing that federal law enforcement deserves unwavering respect during a time of heightened danger and public hostility.
The "Sammy’s" Controversy: Why Now?
While the restaurant has displayed a "Law Enforcement Eats Free" sign for over five years, the current backlash is far more volatile than previous boycotts in 2016 and 2020.
- The Surge in Violence: Rivas cites a dramatic 1,300% increase in assaults on federal officers reported in January 2026 as the primary reason for his public show of support. "They are being attacked, and it is not correct if they don't get the respect they deserve," Rivas told Fox News Digital.
- The "Radical" Pushback: Critics argue that the timing of Rivas' invitation is a "slap in the face" to the victims of recent federal enforcement actions. The restaurant’s social media pages have been inundated with calls for a permanent boycott, with activists labeling the business as "complicit" in federal abuses.
The Backdrop: A Nation Mourning in Minnesota
The outrage against Sammy’s Mexican Grill is fueled by a series of tragic events in Minneapolis that have left the country on edge. Over the last month, two U.S. citizens were fatally shot by federal agents during Operation Metro Surge, sparking nationwide "Abolish ICE" protests.
- Renee Good (January 7, 2026): The 37-year-old mother of three was shot in the head by an ICE officer while dropping her child off at school. While the administration labeled her a "domestic terrorist," independent autopsy results and video footage suggest she was unarmed and posed no threat.
- Alex Pretti (January 24, 2026): An intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA, Pretti was shot multiple times in the back by Border Patrol agents. Witnesses say Pretti was filming a confrontation and trying to protect a woman from being tackled when agents wrestled him to the ground and opened fire.
Escalating Protests and Political Tension
From student walkouts in Texas to candlelight vigils in Los Angeles, the anger over the Good and Pretti killings is reaching a breaking point.
- National Unrest: On February 6, 2026, hundreds of high school students in Indianapolis and Minneapolis walked out of class to demand justice for the victims.
- Legislative Action: Representative Robert Garcia recently released a report accusing the Trump administration of "lying" to cover up the details of the Minnesota shootings, calling for immediate accountability and a halt to aggressive enforcement tactics.
For Jorge Rivas, the political "shitshow" is simply the price of exercising his American freedom.
"Just because we look like Latinos on the outside doesn't mean we have to think the same way as everyone else," Rivas insisted.
Despite the death threats and the "renewed wave" of vitriol, Sammy’s Mexican Grill remains open, serving as a defiant stronghold for those who support the administration’s border policies.