Agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), conducted simultaneous raids at two Buona Forchetta locations on the 3000 block of Beech Street - the main Buona Forchetta restaurant and Enoteca Buona Forchetta. According to ICE, the action was part of two "worksite enforcement operations." The specific reason for the enforcement has not been disclosed, as the investigation remains ongoing.
Witnesses reported that agents stormed both restaurants just before 6 p.m., deploying flash bang grenades to disperse patrons and employees. At least a dozen heavily armed agents in camouflage uniforms, helmets, and tactical vests surrounded the restaurants and began detaining staff members. Employees were handcuffed and their identification checked on site. Renato Ametrano, general manager of Buona Forchetta, said he believed three workers were taken away after being unable to produce ID. All other employees working at the time of the raid were reportedly sent home for the evening.
Ametrano described the scene as traumatizing, saying the agents pushed him against a wall before handcuffing everyone. He estimated between 20 and 25 agents were involved. The agents reportedly arrived around 4:30 p.m. and remained for more than an hour. During the course of the operation, a large and vocal crowd formed outside the restaurants, many of whom were neighborhood supporters expressing anger and concern.
Video footage from the South Park location shows stunned patrons yelling at agents in protest, with some bystanders throwing objects and chanting as tensions escalated. A handwritten sign later taped to one of the restaurant’s doors simply read, "We’re closed."
San Diego Police Department confirmed it was called in by HSI to assist with crowd control due to the large and emotional gathering that quickly formed outside the restaurants. SDPD stated it did not participate in the federal operation itself. No injuries have been reported.
The use of tactical force and flash bangs during dinner service at two highly visible neighborhood restaurants has sparked backlash throughout the community. Social media quickly filled with outrage and demands for transparency as videos and first-hand accounts circulated widely. Civil rights advocates and hospitality leaders are questioning the necessity and timing of such high-profile enforcement actions.
Adding to the intrigue are new community observations and speculation that raise further questions. Just one day before the raid, three marked SDPD vehicles were reportedly seen outside Matteo - a completely not-for-profit, charity-driven restaurant in South Park also owned by the Buona Forchetta group - where officers questioned staff about a tattooed male employee who had worked that day or the day prior. The visit left some patrons uneasy and is now being viewed in hindsight as potentially connected.
Separately, others in the community are questioning whether the enforcement may have been politically motivated. Buona Forchetta's ownership is hosting a community meeting of locals opposing a proposed 8-story development on B Street. That meeting is said to be scheduled in the coming week at Merkai, another sister restaurant in the Buona Forchetta group, raising suspicions about the timing and targeting of the enforcement actions.
Buona Forchetta, known for its Neapolitan-style pizza and warm, family-friendly atmosphere, is part of a respected local restaurant group with multiple locations across San Diego County and Orange County. The South Park location was the group’s first establishment in San Diego.
Late Saturday morning, Buona Forchetta released an official statement expressing heartbreak over the raid, calling it "nothing short of traumatic." The statement emphasized that the company's priority is the well-being of its employees and their families, especially those who were detained. The company said it is working closely with legal counsel and offering emotional and mental health support to impacted staff.
"We are grateful no one was physically harmed," the statement read. "We are also deeply moved by the outpouring of support from our community."
Owner Matteo Cattaneo also emphasized the restaurant's values in a statement to SanDiegoVille, saying, "Buona Forchetta is a family, not a business. That’s our success. We stand together, and we do it with love for one another."
While worksite enforcement actions typically relate to the suspected hiring of undocumented workers or other labor violations, ICE has not confirmed any arrests or charges at this time. Whether the timing of this enforcement effort was coincidental or influenced by outside factors remains unclear.
This is a developing story. Additional updates will be shared as more information becomes available.
While worksite enforcement actions typically relate to the suspected hiring of undocumented workers or other labor violations, ICE has not confirmed any arrests or charges at this time. Whether the timing of this enforcement effort was coincidental or influenced by outside factors remains unclear.
This is a developing story. Additional updates will be shared as more information becomes available.
Originally published on May 30, 2025.
