15 hours ago
Florida food trucks face backlash after catering controversy at Alligator Alcatraz
A Mexican food truck company is apologizing to its customers for participating in a catering event at Alligator Alcatraz.
"We deeply regret the impression our involvement may have given and the pain it has caused within our community," said Elote Lovers, a Homestead restaurant, in a statement on Instagram.
Elote Lovers was one of four food trucks seen entering the Everglades immigration processing center on a TikTok posted on July 2. The video, which now has over 3.7 million views, shows food trucks named Kona Ice, Elote Lovers, Churromania and Ms. Cheezius driving into the gate at the Dade Collier Training and Transition Airport in Miami-Dade County.
"They love our food but hate our people," wrote TikTok user osozalez.
In a statement on Instagram, Ms. Cheezius said the food truck was approached by a disaster response company to help provide meals for active service members who were working at Alligator Alcatraz.
"Contrary to misleading online narratives, our presence was not part of any celebration or grand opening, and we are not engaged in ongoing services there," the statement says.
Kona Ice also released a statement and clarified that each Kona Ice truck is locally owned and operated. The company said the event was booked through an unknown agency, and the franchise was unaware of the facility's nature or its association with "politically sensitive issues."
"Our brand exists to bring a moment of happiness to communities through our shaved ice experience – and we recognize the importance of ensuring that mission is never misinterpreted," the statement says.
Restaurant said providing food was not an endorsement
On Elote Lovers' website, the restaurant says they started as a family-run food truck in 2011 but expanded in 2019.
"What started as a small family venture has grown into a place where tradition meets innovation," the website says. "From our classic Mexican-style elotes to our loaded Crunchwraps, unique street eats, and Fresh Squeezed Lemonade, every bite is crafted with love, quality ingredients, and a little bit of heat!"
The restaurant said providing food for Alligator Alcatraz was not an endorsement of the facility, which opened July 1 with a highly-publicized visit from President Donald Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Both toured the facility with Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie, who boasted about the state's quick efforts to set up the immigration processing center in eight days.
The state plans to hold 3,000 detained immigrants at the Everglades detention center for future removal to their countries of origin. It's been heavily criticized, with opponents arguing it will harm the fragile ecosystem of the Everglades, is inhumane to detainees and the facility will waste taxpayer dollars.
DeSantis described these sites as a "one-stop shop," for deportation.
Questions for comment from Churromania are pending.
"We do not support, condone, or align ourselves with any form of oppression, abuse, of injustice," Elote Lovers said. "We never have and we never will."
Ana Goñi-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network – Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@
