Several businesses have already closed their doors to ICE agents, and the biggest among them was a McDonald’s branch in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sadly, this policy for the McDonald’s branch didn’t last long: McDonald’s asked the branch owner to take down the ‘No ICE Access’ sign, and ICE is once again welcome to their cheeseburgers.
Before the sign’s takedown, however, the particular McDonald’s branch went viral on multiple social media platforms for its rather defiant stance. The branch not only included the “No ICE Access” sign but also hired a security guard to enforce it. “At the end of the day, this is private property, so you can’t just break the law [just] because you’re a federal agent,” according to the guard.
Despite the sign, however, ICE agents still stormed the place and not only entered the McDonald’s branch but also tried to gain access to the staff for whatever reason. The security officer was supposedly able to stop them based on another recent viral video:
Newsweek, however, reached out to the owner of the particular McDonald’s branch and revealed that the sign was posted without their approval. “We’re in touch with the owner/operator of this franchised restaurant and have confirmed that this flyer was posted without approval and has since been taken down,” according to McDonald’s transcript courtesy of Newsweek. It’s not clear whether the sign’s takedown was McDonald’s initiative or whether federal pressure influenced the decision.
ICE doesn’t seem to like it when you deny them access
Businesses barring ICE from entering their premises is not limited to Minnesota; just a few days ago, a Tennessee sandwich shop posted the same sign. Surprisingly enough, ICE also stormed the sandwich shop and even blockaded the building’s parking lot, bringing heavy backup such as the FBI, ATF, and even the National Guard, all because of one flyer.
It’s worth noting that for the particular Minneapolis branch of McDonald’s above, the “No ICE” flyer was put up as a response to the death of 37-year-old Renee Good, who died because of an ICE officer during a traffic stop in the city. For McDonald’s, however, the branch’s reaction to Renee Good’s death was seemingly unacceptable.
Some people have defended the actions of the McDonald’s branch, stating that “This is not obstruction. Politely denying access to a private area is not interfering with enforcement. It is asserting property and constitutional rights,” with another echoing the sentiment, “That’s private property. They are breaking the fourth amendment they need a warrant to search the property.”
