PATCH.COM, OCEANSIDE, NY — Christian Emmanuel Rodriguez Torrealba, a criminal illegal alien from Venezuela, entered the U.S. on a B-2 tourist visa that required him to leave the U.S. by June 3, 2016, a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement to Patch.
“Nearly 10 years later, he is still illegally in the U.S. Rodriguez’s criminal history includes convictions for battery and property damage crimes. ICE arrested this illegal alien on August 21, 2025.”
Rodriguez has been working at the fast food restaurant since 2020, Newsday said. The outlet also said he has a valid Social Security number and a work visa …
Federal immigration crackdown –
There are an estimated one million undocumented restaurant workers in the United States
Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor, February 6, 2025
Since taking office for the second time, President Donald Trump has released a flurry of executive orders, many of which are aimed at making immigration policy in the United States much stricter than before.
The U.S. Center for Migration Studies estimates that there are approximately one million undocumented immigrants working in the restaurant industry today, many of whom could be targeted by these rapidly shifting federal policies.
Among other actions and promises over the past couple of weeks, the White House declared a “National Emergency” at the Southern border, invoking a “mass influx” declaration for the first time.
It authorized the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Department of State to detain and remove undocumented immigrants and set a new daily arrest quota of 1,200-1,500 people for the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
Additionally, the first piece of legislation Trump signed into law on Jan. 29 was the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the federal detention of undocumented immigrants who are accused of theft, burglary, assaulting a law enforcement officer, or any serious violent crime.
Although these policies are predominantly aimed at immigrants who have committed crimes, experts believe that the restaurant industry — which according to the National Restaurant Association, is comprised of 21% legal immigrant workers — would be immediately impacted.
“This has only exacerbated the crisis,” Andrew Rigie, executive director of the New York City Hospitality Association, said.
“The uncertainty breeds fear. Just running a restaurant day-to-day is difficult enough, but adding this additional layer of uncertainty creates an even worse business environment. Immigrants are the backbone of the restaurant industry in so many ways.”
Rigie added that even if a restaurant or other workplace does not have any undocumented immigrants on staff, there still may be legal complications or confusion both for employers and their employees …
