One after the other, customers walked up to the front door of Mi Hacienda for lunch Friday only to find the doors locked before walking back to their cars disappointed.
Mi Hacienda was one of several Mexican restaurants to temporarily close this week, sparking rumors about possible immigration enforcement in Columbus.
A Facebook post in the Columbus, MS Watch and Information group on Thursday claimed Mi Hacienda, Sol Y Luna Mexican Grill and Guadalajara Cantina and Grill had all closed for the day. The post quickly garnered comments speculating potential U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids were the cause.
On Friday, the three restaurants remained closed as well as Mi Toro, according to signs posted on their doors. Signs at Guadalajara Cantina and Grill and Mi Toro attributed the closures to maintenance and staffing issues, respectively.
Lindsay Williams, public affairs officer for the ICE office in Jackson, told The Dispatch there were no enforcement actions in Columbus on Friday. However, he did not confirm before press time whether any detainments were made or warrants served in the area earlier this week.
Both Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins and Columbus Police Chief Joseph Daughtry told The Dispatch neither agency had received word of any ICE activity in the area this week.
“Federal agencies normally don’t contact local municipalities,” Daughtry said. “If they do, it will be at the last minute.”
The Dispatch reached out to the owner of Mi Hacienda and Sol y Luna, as well as multiple employees, but did not receive any responses by press time.
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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