Federal judge rules ICE's warrantless arrests at Liberty restaurant unlawful, extends settlement terms
Oct 10, 2025·Location: Liberty, Missouri

On February 7, 2025, ICE officers arrested 12 employees at El Potro Mexican Restaurant in Liberty, Missouri while searching for a registered sex offender. A federal judge ruled that 11 of the arrests were unlawful, finding that ICE lacked probable cause to justify warrantless arrests and violated a legal settlement agreement requiring probable cause that a person is likely to escape before making such arrests in the Midwest region. The judge found that the restaurant owner was not informed that employees had the option to refuse speaking with agents. The National Immigrant Justice Center brought the case challenging the raids. The federal judge extended the terms of the settlement agreement through February 2026.
Timeline
Sources
- ICE arrests at Liberty restaurant deemed unlawful by federal judge
kctv5.com·Oct 10, 2025·archived copy
- Federal judge rules against ICE in the warrantless arrests of 11 Liberty restaurant workers
thebeaconnews.org·Oct 9, 2025·archived copy
thepitchkc.com·Oct 12, 2025·archived copy
- Federal judge rules ICE arrests at Liberty restaurant unlawful
Yahoo News·Oct 13, 2025·archived copy
- columbiamissourian.com
- kansascity.com
- fox4kc.com
- Federal judge rules against ICE over warrantless arrests of Kansas City-area restaurant workers
KCUR·Oct 10, 2025·archived copy
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