1,300% Surge in ICE Agent Assaults
An immigrant restaurant owner from El Salvador is facing a vicious leftist mob campaign after refusing to back down from his policy of providing free meals to ICE agents—responding to the hate with a message critics desperately need to hear.
Story Highlights
- Jorge Rivas, owner of Sammy’s Mexican Grill in Arizona, continues offering free meals to ICE agents despite online backlash and fake reviews
- The Salvadoran immigrant and Trump supporter tells critics they should “look for Jesus” instead of attacking law enforcement supporters
- ICE agents face unprecedented violence with 1,300% increase in assaults and 8,000% surge in death threats during January 2026
- Restaurant’s five-year policy went viral after local interview, triggering harassment campaign with threatening calls and review-bombing
Immigrant Owner Defends Law Enforcement Against Leftist Mob
Jorge Rivas established Sammy’s Mexican Grill’s policy over five years ago with a simple sign offering complimentary meals to law enforcement officers. The Catalina, Arizona restaurant owner, who immigrated from El Salvador, maintained this practice quietly until a local reporter’s interview confirming ICE inclusion went viral on social media through Pulso media outlet. The backlash arrived swiftly, with leftist critics organizing boycott campaigns, flooding phone lines with threatening calls, and posting fabricated one-star reviews claiming unsanitary conditions. Rivas, a vocal Trump supporter who previously ran in Arizona GOP primaries, refused to capitulate to the pressure.
Faith-Based Response Highlights Moral Divide
Rather than retreating, Rivas confronted his critics with a message grounded in faith and conviction. Speaking to Fox News Digital in early February 2026, he stated critics should “look for Jesus” to find purpose in their lives. Restaurant staff adopted a unified response to hate calls, simply replying “God bless you” to harassers. Rivas told reporters his policy honors agents working “under great leadership of President Trump” and emphasized law enforcement officers make daily sacrifices deserving community support. The response underscores a fundamental values gap between those respecting constitutional law enforcement and leftists seeking to undermine immigration control through intimidation tactics.
ICE Agents Face Unprecedented Violence Surge
The controversy surrounding Sammy’s Mexican Grill occurs amid alarming violence targeting federal immigration enforcement. ICE reported a 1,300% increase in assaults, 3,200% surge in vehicle attacks, and 8,000% spike in death threats during January 2026 alone. The Department of Homeland Security documented an overall 1,150% violence increase throughout 2025. These statistics follow specific incidents including the Minneapolis death of Renee Nicole Good after allegedly ramming an ICE vehicle and Border Patrol’s fatal encounter with Alex Pretti on January 24. These attacks demonstrate the dangerous environment federal agents navigate daily while leftist activists simultaneously vilify businesses supporting their safety.
Mexican Restaurant Owner Under Fire for Offering ICE Agents Free Meals Fires Back at Leftists: 'They Need to Look for Jesus' https://t.co/d7oPYeNoPm #gatewaypundit via @gatewaypundit
— DK Mac (@DKMac14) February 14, 2026
Political Polarization Targets Border-State Businesses
The Rivas family previously endured backlash in 2016 for endorsing Trump, and Jorge participated in a 2020 presidential event with then-President Trump during a PPE plant tour. The current harassment campaign represents intensified political weaponization against small businesses near the U.S.-Mexico border. Fake reviews threaten legitimate business reputation and revenue, yet Rivas expressed concern while maintaining his principles. The restaurant remains operational with policy unchanged, potentially establishing a precedent for other border-state establishments facing similar pressure. This incident exposes the left’s intolerance toward immigrants who refuse to conform to their narrative, particularly those supporting lawful immigration enforcement and constitutional authority under the Trump administration’s restored leadership.
Sources:
Arizona Mexican restaurant offering free meals to ICE agents sparks online reaction – Fox News