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Juan Manuel A.Z.: Bloomington restaurant owner detained by ICE, family found his car empty

Juan Manuel Arellano Zepeda, 48, owner of El Fresco restaurant in Bloomington, was detained by ICE on January 6 after his family found his car abandoned. He has lived in the U.S. for 25 years.

Jan 6, 2025Bloomington, MNCountry of origin: Mexico

Juan Manuel A.Z.: Bloomington restaurant owner detained by ICE, family found his car empty
Photo via Hometown Source

Juan Manuel Arellano Zepeda, a 48-year-old Mexican national and owner of El Fresco restaurant in Bloomington, was detained by ICE on January 6 and held in El Paso, Texas. Arellano Zepeda, who has lived in the U.S. for 25 years and has a pending Visa T application, was initially reported missing by his family after they found his car empty with the driver's side window rolled down. His daughter Laura Janyra Arellano Molina told Newsweek that her father called to say he was being taken to El Paso, and the family later identified him in ICE facility photos posted on social media. The restaurant described Arellano Zepeda as "always characterized by his kindness and respect toward his customers and the public." His family said he has no criminal record and has not had a court hearing as of the article's publication.

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