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28 underpaid workers arrested in ICE raid on Arizona restaurant chain

Twenty-eight undocumented workers were arrested when agents raided four Arizona restaurants and an Alabama location, leaving about 200 employees jobless after the chain closed.

Jul 15, 2025Village of Oak Creek, AZCountry of origin: Mexico

On July 15, 2025, federal agents raided four Colt Grill BBQ and Spirits restaurants in Yavapai County, Arizona, and a location in Foley, Alabama, arresting 28 undocumented workers on immigration violations. Restaurant owners Robert and Brenda Clouston, both 61, were arrested along with two undocumented immigrants, Luis Pedro Rogel-Jaimes, 33, and Iris Romero-Molina, 29. According to a May 27 federal indictment, the four defendants conspired to transport and harbor undocumented workers from Mexico, operating a fake cleaning business as a staffing front to conceal payments. The workers were paid below minimum wage without overtime compensation, and the defendants avoided proper employment taxes. Approximately 200 employees lost their jobs when the restaurants closed. The investigation spanned three years.

Timeline

Jul 15, 2025—ICE raided four Colt Grill restaurants in Yavapai County (Village of Oak Creek, Cottonwood, Prescott, Prescott Valley) and one location in Foley, Alabama; arrested 28 undocumented workers and four defendants including restaurant owners Robert and Brenda Clouston
Jul 15, 2025—Approximately 200 Colt Grill employees lost their jobs as restaurants closed following the raids
May 27, 2025—Federal indictment issued charging Robert and Brenda Clouston and two undocumented immigrants with conspiracy to transport and harbor undocumented workers
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