SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Inka’s Peruvian Cuisine serves traditional Peruvian dishes with Japanese and other Asian influences from its downtown Syracuse location. But behind the restaurant’s fusion cuisine and welcoming atmosphere, owner Don Mario says immigration enforcement has created fear and uncertainty for members of his staff.
A detention with few answers
Mario said a waiter at the restaurant was detained by federal immigration authorities. Coworkers have struggled to find information about where the waiter was taken or what would happen to him next.
Mario asked that identifying information and additional details about the waiter—including his name, country of origin, detention date and length of employment—not be published. Because that information was withheld, NCC News could not independently verify the circumstances of the detention or the waiter’s current location.
“We know nothing about him,” Mario said. “We haven’t heard from him since we heard he had been detained. He was alone here, with his family back in his country.”
The detention has affected more than the waiter who was taken. Mario said the remaining employees have been forced to continue operating the restaurant while worrying about their coworker and their own safety.
Inka’s opened in downtown Syracuse in fall 2024. The restaurant, located at 201 S. Salina St., depends on employees working in the kitchen, serving customers and completing the preparation required before each service.
When one worker suddenly disappears from the schedule, those responsibilities must be divided among the people who remain. Employees may have to work longer hours, take on unfamiliar duties or operate with fewer people during busy periods.
“I have had to work extra myself,” Mario said. “There are people who refuse to come in or quit after we had the waiter detained.”
Increasing Wariness of ICE
The emotional impact has also been difficult, said Mario. Staff members are not only coworkers; many build close relationships after spending long shifts together. Mario explained that when someone is detained without warning, the uncertainty can follow the remaining employees into the workplace.
Mario said that fear extends beyond the restaurant. Employees can become concerned about traveling to work, driving through the city or completing ordinary daily activities. Some may also worry about relatives and friends who could face similar enforcement actions.
“We know the schedule and areas where ICE usually patrols,” Mario said. “A lot of my workers talk and help each other out. But you can never be too sure. A lot of them are scared.”
The situation at Inka’s comes during a significant increase in local immigration enforcement. More than 500 people have been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Onondaga County since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term, according to an August Syracuse.com analysis of federal immigration data.
The analysis found that most of the arrests occurred in Syracuse and that 82% of those arrested had no criminal history. Immigration enforcement operations have also taken place at workplaces, Syracuse Hancock International Airport and public locations, including the Westcott neighborhood.
Small businesses absorb the effects
For restaurants, losing workers without notice can disrupt service and create financial pressure. Small businesses often operate with limited staffs, meaning the absence of even one employee can affect hours, wait times and the number of customers they can serve.
Mario said the public may hear about the number of people detained without seeing the effects on the coworkers, families and businesses left behind.
Inka’s remains open, and its staff continues serving customers while dealing with that uncertainty. Mario said support from the Syracuse community is especially important when immigrant-owned businesses and their employees feel vulnerable.
“The Latino community has been very supportive,” Mario said. “But we need the city to give us a way to find our workers. He was an important part of our community, not just at the restaurant but in Syracuse.”
The restaurant’s experience also raises questions about what resources are available to businesses after a worker is detained. Owners may need help locating employees, contacting their families, understanding the legal process and reorganizing their businesses with little warning.
For Mario, the issue is not limited to politics or immigration policy. It is about the people who prepare meals, serve customers and help keep a local business running, he said.