Oklahoma City, OK – A recent incident at Pearl’s Crabtown in Oklahoma City has sparked confusion and concern after viral social media posts suggested a federal immigration raid took place at the popular Bricktown restaurant. However, local authorities have clarified that the operation was part of an ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) initiative, not a sudden raid.
The situation unfolded on Sunday morning when federal agents took two employees into custody at the restaurant. Jada Robbins, a former employee of Pearl’s Crabtown, shared with News 4 that several current staff members were shaken by the event. Robbins explained that one of the employees later told her that the arrests took place while the individuals were working their shift.
“Employees were pretty shaken up, pretty frightened,” Robbins said. “It was unsettling for them. I went down there for dinner and one of the employees came out and mentioned what had happened.”
The incident quickly gained attention when a current employee posted on social media, warning others that “ICE is raiding Bricktown” and urging the community to “stay safe.” This post contributed to widespread speculation that a large-scale immigration operation was underway in the area.
In response to the growing concern, Oklahoma State Senator Michael Brooks-Jimenez, an immigration attorney, addressed the situation on Monday. Brooks-Jimenez, who had previously warned about the dangers of misinformation regarding immigration enforcement, explained that this was not a raid but a targeted operation under ICE’s “fugitive operations” program.
“This is part of an ongoing program with ICE, and it typically focuses on individuals with criminal convictions or outstanding deportation orders,” Brooks-Jimenez clarified. “This incident involved the arrest of a specific target, but, as is often the case, other individuals who were undocumented may have been taken into custody as collateral.”
The senator noted that the fugitive operations program has been in place for years, spanning multiple presidential administrations. However, Brooks-Jimenez pointed out that the Trump administration had allocated more resources to this program, resulting in a more visible ICE presence in certain areas.
While some might consider the heightened frequency of such operations unusual, Brooks-Jimenez reassured the public that this type of enforcement was not a sudden shift in policy. “What occurred this time was that ICE had a target they were pursuing, and others were picked up as collateral during that operation.”
As the incident unfolded, fears of a widespread raid spread across social media, and some local residents voiced concerns about potential impacts on the community. However, Brooks-Jimenez urged the public to be cautious about the spread of misinformation, emphasizing that exaggerating or misreporting such events can cause unnecessary panic, especially within undocumented communities.
The incident serves as a reminder of the complex nature of immigration enforcement, as well as the impact that social media can have in amplifying misunderstandings. As ICE continues its operations, local officials and community leaders continue to address the need for accurate communication and the potential consequences of misinformation.
The situation at Pearl’s Crabtown remains under investigation as authorities work to clarify further details.
