EDITOR’S NOTE: In the original version of this story, it was reported Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted this operation. Further reporting discovered the operation was actually conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The original story, references, and headline have been corrected to reflect that updated information.
MOUNT VERNON — A federal Homeland Security Investigations operation took place at the Panchos Tacos restaurant in Mount Vernon on Thursday, Oct. 9, around 11 a.m.
As of around 6 p.m., the Mount Vernon Police Department was on the scene at 110 Mount Vernon Ave. with the building’s owner, Tim Carper. The police department was not involved in the HSI operation, according to city officials.
HSI detained and removed several employees, according to Carper, a Mount Vernon resident. He said one worker was injured during the operation, which happened before the restaurant opened.
The restaurant opened in Mount Vernon in 2024. It was not known Thursday evening where the employees were taken.
Carper said officials with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office were present when HSI conducted its operation. Knox Pages reached Sheriff Dan Weckesser for comment Thursday and he said he would have more information about the incident Friday.
The City of Mount Vernon later released a statement on its Facebook account about the incident.
“At approximately 12:30 p.m., the City of Mount Vernon became aware of a federal (HSI) operation conducted at Pancho’s Tacos within City limits,” the statement reads.
“The City of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Police Department, and the Office of the Law Director did not receive communication or coordination from (HSI) officials regarding the timing, scope, or nature of this operation,” the statement said.
This story is ongoing and will be updated as more information is provided.