Carlos Lool detained by ICE following workplace firearm violation report.
May 12, 2026·Location: Los Angeles, CA
Country of origin: Guatemala

Carlos Lool, owner and chef of La Granja Rotisserie and Fuego Rotisserie in South Los Angeles, was detained by ICE agents on May 10, 2026, while picking up supplies for a catering event. According to witnesses, masked agents followed their vehicle and forcibly removed Lool with guns drawn, placing him on the floor at gunpoint. The detention followed a report from a former employee claiming a firearm was kept at the restaurant in violation of Lool's parole conditions. Lool, originally from Guatemala and raised in Connecticut, has a criminal conviction from approximately 30 years ago for which he has already served his sentence. He now faces deportation proceedings while his children, employees, and businesses remain in the U.S., with supporters launching a GoFundMe campaign to cover legal expenses.
Sources
- South LA chef and restaurant owner in ICE custody, facing deportation
abc7.com·May 11, 2026·archived copy
- Who is Carlos Lool, why has ICE arrested South LA chef and what will happen to La Granja Rotisserie and Fuego Rotisserie restaurants and their employees? Explainer on arrest, deportation risk and restaurant future
- Popular chef and restaurant owner in ICE custody, facing deportation
abc7chicago.com·May 12, 2026·archived copy
- Who is Carlos Lool and what led to his ICE detention? Girlfriend of South LA chef launches GoFundMe amid arrest claims
- 'His kids are here, he's being deported': Top LA restaurant owner arrested by ICE after his own worker ratted him out - The Times of India
- Who is Carlos Lool? Video of beloved South LA chef's ICE arrest goes viral, ‘They yanked him out…’
hindustantimes.com·May 12, 2026·archived copy
- Carlos Lool GoFundMe: GF of South LA chef detained by ICE seeks community support, says family and businesses in trouble
hindustantimes.com·May 12, 2026·archived copy
origin-pre-prod.hindustantimes.com·May 12, 2026·archived copy
More incidents in California
- Irvine special education teacher detained at LAX, transferred to Adelanto ICE facilityOct 6, 2026 · Los Angeles, CA
- Former DACA recipient dies of sepsis after Adelanto ICE staff ignored infection, family suesOct 3, 2026 · Adelanto, CA
- Senator tours SFO airport holding room, cites prolonged ICE detentionsOct 1, 2026 · San Francisco, CA
- Mexican man captured by drone-tracking agents in Buena Park fraud sweepOct 1, 2026 · Buena Park, CA
- Irish man detained at airport deported to UK before bond hearingSep 30, 2026 · San Jose, CA
- Ghanaian respiratory therapist chained and detained at SFO gate over visa overstaySep 30, 2026 · San Francisco, CA