Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the proper agency involved in this incident.
Twelve employees were removed from a popular Mexican restaurant in Liberty by authorities with Homeland Security Investigations on Friday morning, according to the Clay County Sheriff's Office.
An employee at El Potro Restaurant, located at 116 Stewart Court, said the operation started at around 10 a.m. and lasted for about three hours.
Clay County Sheriff Will Akin told KSHB 41 that the federal agents were conducting a workforce enforcement operation and for a person wanted on a warrant for a child sex crime.
During the operation, the agents detained 12 people who were determined to be undocumented.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office said it was unaware of the operation prior to federal agents going into the restaurant.
Akin said a Clay County resident told him about the operation and he went to the business to assess the situation.
The sheriff was then captured on a person's cell phone camera which was later posted online.
Despite this, Akin said the Clay County Sheriff’s Office was not involved and has no jurisdiction over immigration cases or investigations.
The restaurant was able to continue operations after the incident.
Earlier Friday, the Kansas City Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms posted on X that they were assisting the Department of Homeland Security in "immigration enforcement efforts."
The photo posted appeared to be in a different location from the location of the Mexican restaurant in Liberty.
ATF is assisting the Department of Homeland Security and other federal and local law enforcement partners with their immigration enforcement efforts across the U.S., targeting gang members, drug traffickers and dangerous criminals. @HSIKansasCity pic.twitter.com/dGYm18cGpA
— ATF Kansas City (@ATFKansasCity) February 7, 2025
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