Surveillance video from Pancho’s Taqueria in Circle Pines shows two plainclothes federal officers pulling an employee out of a back storage unit Tuesday evening as the man repeatedly shouts "Ayuda" for help. Co‑workers identified him only as "Kevin" and said staff had been watching the men in the rear lot for about 20 minutes before the detention unfolded.
As reported by FOX 9, the incident happened at about 5 p.m. The footage shows a brief struggle in which Kevin loses his phone, glasses and hat before he is taken into custody. The station reports he was brought first to the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building and, according to details on a linked fundraiser, transferred to El Paso within roughly 12 hours.
According to GoFundMe, restaurant owner Stacey Chase organized a fundraiser to cover legal fees and support Kevin's family. The campaign text says he is married with small children and is "here legally with a work permit," and the page showed nearly $25,000 raised.
Video shows agents waiting in the back
The surveillance clip described by FOX 9 shows two men in plain clothes walking into the storage area behind the restaurant before pulling Kevin out and placing him in handcuffs. Employees told reporters the whole thing was abrupt and frightening, and that in the struggle he left his personal items behind in the storage unit.
Officials have not explained the detention
It is still not clear what led to Kevin's detention or whether any removal paperwork or criminal charges have been filed. Bring Me The News reported that federal agencies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Context: protests and heightened tension
The arrest comes amid ongoing demonstrations at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building after a series of recent ICE operations in the Twin Cities, including a deadly January shooting that has drawn national attention. National coverage has documented protests at Fort Snelling and increased scrutiny of ICE’s regional tactics, keeping the agency in the local headlines. The Guardian has continued reporting on the broader fallout.
What the restaurant and community are doing
Pancho’s owners say they have paused donations on the fundraiser while they coordinate legal help and living assistance for Kevin’s family. The GoFundMe description details how they plan to manage the money for bond and legal representation. The campaign text says the restaurant has already paid several thousand dollars to an attorney and is raising additional funds for bond and counsel via GoFundMe.
