Alabama Politics
Federal Immigration Raids Target Businesses in Lee, Elmore, and Autauga Counties
Murray Edwards – Auburn, Alabama – July 16, 2025
Federal authorities, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security, conducted a series of coordinated raids across Lee, Elmore, Autauga, and other Alabama counties on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, as part of a large-scale investigation into fraud, drug trafficking, and immigration violations. The operation, dubbed “Operation Take Back America,” targeted 14 businesses, primarily Mexican restaurants, in six counties, resulting in the detention of 48 individuals accused of working without proper documentation and the arrest of three others on related charges.
The raids focused on establishments, El Jefe near the Auburn Mall and El Patron in Tiger Town, both located in Lee County. Additional businesses in Elmore and Autauga counties were also searched, though specific locations in these counties remain undisclosed. The operation stemmed from a federal indictment against Cesar Campos-Reyes, a 52-year-old Lee County resident, who was charged with bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering related to the misuse of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Campos-Reyes surrendered to authorities Tuesday evening and is expected to appear in federal court in Montgomery.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama, the raids uncovered significant evidence of criminal activity, including methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, pills, over $100,000 in cash, and more than 20 firearms. Two individuals were charged with harboring undocumented immigrants, and other faces charges related to controlled substances. The operation involved multiple agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Marshals Service, Alabama Department of Corrections, and local law enforcement from Auburn, Opelika, Prattville, Wetumpka, and the Lee and Elmore County Sheriff’s Offices.
Community reactions have been mixed. Some residents expressed support for the enforcement actions, citing concerns over illegal immigration and crime. Others, including members of the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice (ACIJ), condemned the raids, calling for state lawmakers and law enforcement to prioritize community welfare over collaboration with federal immigration operations. “We demand that Alabama lawmakers and law enforcement stop collaborating and start doing their job,” the ACIJ stated in response to the raids.
The operation has sparked broader discussions about immigration enforcement in Alabama. Legal experts have warned of potential civil liberties concerns, drawing parallels to recent controversies in Southern California, where a federal judge ordered a halt to indiscriminate immigration arrests due to allegations of racial profiling. While no such legal challenges have yet emerged in Alabama, community members like Mary Jo Thompson of Indivisible Auburn voiced concerns about the impact on local immigrant communities.
As the investigation continues, federal authorities have promised further details during a press conference held in Auburn on Tuesday. The case underscores ongoing tensions surrounding immigration policy and enforcement in the state, with Operation Take Back America signaling a broader federal push to address illegal immigration, cartels, and related criminal activities.
