I'm a business owner in Minneapolis working 16-hour shifts so my staff can stay home to avoid ICE

Business \insider ^ | Jan 30, 2026 | As told to Allie Kelly

[Salman]

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Michael Knox, co-owner of Toma Mojo Grill near Minneapolis. This story has been edited for length and clarity.

I run a fast casual chicken restaurant in Richfield, Minnesota, a suburb just south of Minneapolis.

With ICE agents in the area, I don't know when — or if — staff will be able to come to work. We all have pretty set schedules, and we're tight-knit. There are only six of us operating this place, seven days a week. And I have concerns: Are my employees going to get stopped on their way to work? Are they going to be hassled or detained? Are they going to come back?

It's a day-by-day thing. Over the past couple of weeks, we've adjusted our hours, opening later and closing earlier. I've been picking up everyone's shifts, but I can't physically work 16 hours a day, seven days a week. We had to close last week so that I could have a day off. I had a doctor's appointment that I couldn't miss.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: aliens; arrestmichaelknox; auditmichaelknox; criminalobstruction; donthireillegals; facilitatingfraud; harboring; harboringillegals; ice; labor; michaelknox; minnesota; restaurant; slavedriver; striphislicense; tomamojogrill

[Salman]

He just confessed to the crime of hiring illegals. Shouldn't he be arrested?

[sopo]

is this Darwin award territory?

[MrRelevant]

I read this yesterday and literally laughed out loud. Nice business model….how that working out for ya

[Ann Archy]

For SURE, AND HIS PAYROLL NNEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.

[rovenstinez]

I just bawled out my dry eyes reading this poor souls struggle. Looks like he needs to get used to working 16 hour days, and maybe someone should tell him next time to try to give employment to U.S. Citizens.

[silverleaf]

An audit of his books would be interesting

[brownsfan]

Simple solution, don’t hire illegal aliens.

[MotorCityBuck]

I see 16 hour shifts in your long term future. 😀
Story is B.S of course.

[Dan Zachary]

someone should tell him next time to try to give employment to U.S. Citizens.

But then he will have to pay at least minimum wage.

[WashingtonSource]

Poor widdle crooked bidness owner so sowwy him lose his imported slaves.

[MNJohnnie]

He just admitted he is a criminal illegal employing other criminals under the table. Arrest him

[packagingguy]

If one has to break the law as part of one’s business model, perhaps it’s time to rethink the whole model.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

He just confessed to the crime of hiring illegals. Shouldn't he be arrested?

Yes.

[butlerweave]

Pay them under the table so they don’t have to pay taxes and you pocket more etc etc ?

[FlingWingFlyer]

Good for you. What the hell do you want, a Medal of Freedom from your boy Pedo Joe Biden? Hint. HIRE SOME FRIGGIN AMERICANS, MAGGOT!!!

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

My advice?
Invite ICE to come in for a meal and prove to them that your staff is here legally.
Later, the officers will certainly recognize them and not hassle them to-and-from work.

Wait ...

[Tommy Revolts]

I run a fast casual chicken restaurant in Richfield, Minnesota, a suburb just south of Minneapolis.

Thanks for the tip.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Save your screw America SOB story for somebody who cares.

[Brian Griffin]

Here’s plane fare home!

I need to obey the law.

[marktwain]

The author sounds as if he is a victim of the fear mongering of the old media/Democratic party.