Ole Taco owner facing federal charges after ICE raid

MISSION, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The owner of Ole Taco in Mission has been arrested on federal charges related to illegal hiring.

Juan Ramirez Cortez was detained Thursday at one of the Ole Taco locations. Cortez is charged with illegally hiring, employing and harboring more than a dozen people.

The business owner made his initial appearance in court and is scheduled for a preliminary and detention hearing July 15.

Cortez will remain jailed until the hearing.

A criminal complaint alleges that he hired at least 10 workers. He is accused of hiring and firing employees, filling out employee paperwork and checking the immigration documents of employees.

ValleyCentral reported on Thursday that the Federal Bureau of Investigation San Antonio Field Office confirmed immigration raids occurred in Mission and Edinburg on Thursday morning during court-authorized “enforcement activity.”

As part of the enforcement action, authorities also arrested 17 workers.

If convicted, Cortez faces up to five years in federal prison.