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Guatemalan baker locked bakery to protect workers during ICE arrest, detained

Jul 10, 2026 · Lake Worth Beach, FL, Guatemala

Guatemalan baker locked bakery to protect workers during ICE arrest, detained

Jacob Zapeta-Castro, a Guatemalan national and owner of El Quetzal Bakery in Lake Worth Beach, was detained by ICE agents on July 9, 2026. According to his family and advocates, Zapeta-Castro locked himself and his coworkers inside the business to protect undocumented employees from detention. ICE characterized his actions as fleeing agents. At the time of arrest, Zapeta-Castro held a valid work permit, Social Security number, and driver's license, and had filed for asylum in June 2024 and a withholding of removal petition. Multi-agency law enforcement—including ICE, Florida Highway Patrol, and Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office—surrounded the business with approximately 50 officers while roughly 50 community members protested outside. The standoff lasted hours in extreme heat. He was charged with re-entering the country after deportation and held in ICE detention in Stuart, with his arraignment scheduled for July 29 in federal court in West Palm Beach. His arrest occurred during a four-day ICE operation in Palm Beach County that resulted in 309 total arrests.

Timeline

Jul 29, 2026Arraignment scheduled in federal court in West Palm Beach
Jul 10, 2026Zapeta-Castro held in ICE detention in Stuart
Jul 9, 2026Zapeta-Castro locked bakery and coworkers inside to protect undocumented employees; ICE agents and multi-agency law enforcement surrounded the business with approximately 50 officers; roughly 50 community members protested outside; standoff lasted hours in extreme heat; Zapeta-Castro detained by ICE
Jun 2024Zapeta-Castro filed for asylum

Sources

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