Chef and restaurant owner Carlos Lool, who runs La Granja Rotisserie and Fuego Rotisserie in South Los Angeles' Hyde Park, was taken into federal immigration custody over the weekend and now faces deportation. His sudden arrest has left the two restaurants, their employees and his family scrambling as managers work to keep daily service and upcoming catering jobs on track. Community-shot video of the encounter has been circulating locally, intensifying concern about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the area.
Video shows masked agents taking Lool into custody on Saturday morning, and his partner, Jenna Lawrence, called the scene "heartbreaking" in an interview with ABC7. She told the station that agents followed the couple while they were picking up supplies for a catering event, then pulled Lool from the car and detained him. Lawrence also said a former employee had reported a gun inside the business, which she believes drew investigators' attention.
La Granja's Place in Hyde Park
The restaurants at the center of the arrest are known locally for wood-fire rotisserie chicken and Latin-influenced sides. The business website lists a Hyde Park location on Crenshaw Boulevard. La Granja Rotisserie publishes the Hyde Park address and operating hours, and local food outlet L.A. TACO highlighted the spot when it opened last year.
Why a Decades-Old Conviction Matters
ABC7 reports that Lool has a criminal conviction from Connecticut dating back roughly 30 years, a record that immigration authorities can use while seeking his removal. Human Rights Watch and immigrant-rights advocates point out that even decades-old convictions can expose long-term residents to mandatory detention and deportation, and a 2024 report details how older criminal records continue to drive removals. Human Rights Watch notes that federal immigration law still treats certain convictions as grounds for removal regardless of how much time has passed.
What’s Next for the Restaurants
Employees and customers at both concepts say they are scrambling to cover shifts and hold on to catering contracts while lawyers and relatives try to confirm Lool’s location and legal status. Lawrence has told reporters that he was taken without his phone, computer or other personal items, which has left staff without easy access to bookkeeping files and booking records. For now, managers are keeping service going day to day while community supporters organize efforts to help cover immediate expenses.
How This Fits Into Wider Enforcement
The arrest comes amid heightened national immigration enforcement that has drawn criticism in California and beyond. Data and watchdog projects that track immigration arrests and removals show elevated detention numbers in recent months, a trend advocates say adds pressure on immigrant-owned small businesses and families. The local arrest of a visible small-business owner has already led to calls for legal assistance and community fundraising while the case plays out, and broader data and reporting highlight how quickly such detentions can ripple through neighborhoods. ICEtracking.org provides additional context for how arrests of business owners fit into wider enforcement patterns.
