West New York restaurant loses customers over supposed ‘ICE raid’ owner says never happened
Elio Barrera says his tables have been empty ever since a fake social media video that described an ICE raid at one of his restaurant locations.
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The owner of a popular West New York restaurant says the impact of a fake video has had real consequences.
Elio Barrera, the third-generation owner of La Papusa Loca, says his tables have been empty ever since a fake social media video that described an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid at one of his restaurant locations.
“Not even just on a Thursday night - in general, this place would be packed,” Barrera said. “We haven't seen it like this ever.”
Until late December, Barrera’s uncle ran a second location in Union City. Two weekends ago, a social media video with more than 1.5 million views - which has since been taken down - detailed a supposed ICE raid there.
The video shows the exterior of the former, empty restaurant, and describes the scenario using an AI-narrated voice.
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But Barrera says it never happened, and couldn’t have, since that location is closed.
“There have been no ICE raids here, or in any of our other locations,” he said. “I know the truth. But then looking at the comments, it was almost like, ‘Wow. People are believing this.’”
Barrera says his family - originally immigrants from El Salvador - worked hard over 35 years to position their restaurant as a safe space and a slice of home.
“It's almost like a stab in the back,” he said. “We've been here for so many years, we've catered to our Hispanic community, and to see what this video is doing to us, it's hurtful. I want people to feel like they're protected here.”
The lost business has forced Barrera to cut 20-year employees.
“They've been with me for so long,” Barrera said. “They're like my second family here, too, but at the end of the day, I'm just trying to see where I can save some money and try to see how we can work through this.”
News 12 has reached out to ICE for further information but has not yet heard back.
