American Pie Pizza in Richfield is refusing to go dark after federal immigration agents detained and deported one of its owners. The family-run shop, which the current owners relaunched last November after buying the spot in 2025, is still turning out pies with relatives and employees covering shifts, while loved ones in Mexico try to figure out what comes next. At the same time, neighbors and volunteers say the place has doubled as a neighborhood drop-off point for winter coats for people released from ICE custody.
Owner deported, family keeps shop running
Diego Alvarado, who co‑owned the restaurant with partner Roberto Alvarado Mendoza, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for about four weeks and has since been deported to Puebla, Mexico, as reported by KARE 11. The family says Roberto and other relatives are keeping the kitchen going while they pursue options to reunite with Diego.
Restaurant doubles as mutual aid site
American Pie Pizza has also turned into a local stop for winter coat donations after volunteers reported people being released from the Bishop Henry Whipple federal building without warm clothing. Donation drives quickly flooded several sites, including the pizzeria, as neighbors sorted and redistributed outerwear to people sent out in subzero temperatures, according to the Star Tribune.
Inside the shop, Roberto told a reporter, "We're fighters because this is our dream," as family members rotated shifts to keep the business open. Diego, now staying with family in Puebla, told the same reporter he was "feeling very bad" about the deportation, and the family says it is pressing for ways to return, according to KARE 11.
Enforcement strains local businesses and courts
The Richfield case is unfolding during a broader enforcement push that has brought protests, business disruptions and legal challenges across the Twin Cities. A federal judge recently ordered the Department of Homeland Security to ensure detainees in Minnesota have prompt, private access to attorneys and limits on out‑of‑state transfers, underscoring growing legal scrutiny of enforcement tactics, the Associated Press reported. National outlets have also documented how the enforcement surge drew widespread attention and federal responses in recent weeks, including heightened Pentagon readiness during the peak of protests and confrontations, The Washington Post noted.
What’s next
For now, the pizzeria remains open and is leaning on customers and neighborhood support as family members juggle running the business and navigating immigration hurdles. Organizers and volunteers say mutual‑aid efforts are shifting from collection to distribution while legal developments continue to play out across the region.
