The recent announcement by City Watch Coffee in Pennsylvania to sell its business and relocate its family to Cambodia, following the detention of co-owner Ratha San by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), marks another significant disruption for an independent small coffee business impacted by federal immigration enforcement actions. This event, occurring in August 2026, adds to a growing pattern observed over the past year, where the operations and livelihoods of coffee-centric enterprises across the United States have been directly affected by the detention of their owners, employees, or their family members. The closure of one of City Watch Coffee’s two locations and the impending sale of the entire company underscores the precarious position many small business owners find themselves in when facing immigration proceedings, highlighting the intricate link between personal legal status and business sustainability.
The Case of City Watch Coffee: A Family’s Struggle
City Watch Coffee, a business that has strived to be "community-driven" since its inception in 2022, operates two locations within the Lebanon Valley region of Pennsylvania. The decision to sell the company and uproot the family stems directly from the detention of Ratha San, a co-owner and integral part of the business. According to a statement released on the company’s Facebook page, San’s wife detailed the family’s journey, explaining that Ratha San arrived in the United States legally as a baby through family sponsorship. His family had fled Cambodia and sought refuge in Thailand, eventually making their way to the U.S. legally.
The statement clarified that San’s immigration status was later revoked due to "some poor decisions when he was a teenager and very young adult" made over two decades ago. His wife emphasized Ratha’s personal growth and dedication to becoming a better individual over the past twenty-plus years. She highlighted his contributions to the community, his entrepreneurial spirit, and the family he built, including their young children. This narrative paints a picture of an individual who has integrated into American society, contributed to the economy, and raised a family, yet now faces the profound consequences of past actions on his present legal standing and future prospects.
As of the announcement, Ratha San was being held at the Moshannon Valley ICE Processing Center, according to an ICE detainee search. The immediate impact on City Watch Coffee has been the planned closure of its Cleona location on Monday, August 31, 2026. The Lebanon location was slated to remain open "until further notice," but the overarching plan is to sell the business entirely. The emotional toll on the family is palpable, with San’s wife expressing a commitment to overcoming anger and focusing on building a new life for their children, including a newborn and a three-year-old daughter. The planned relocation to Cambodia is a stark testament to the drastic measures families are forced to consider when faced with such circumstances, prioritizing familial unity above all else.
A Pattern of Disruption: ICE Detentions Impacting Coffee Businesses
The situation at City Watch Coffee is not an isolated incident. Over the past twelve months, there has been a discernible trend of independent coffee-focused businesses experiencing significant operational disruptions due to ICE detentions involving key personnel or their family members. These incidents highlight the vulnerability of small businesses, often reliant on the labor and dedication of a few individuals, to the complexities of U.S. immigration law and enforcement.
Rossville, Georgia: Buenos Dias Coffee
In May 2026, the family behind Buenos Dias Coffee in Rossville, Georgia, made the difficult decision to close their three-year-old cafe and relocate to Mexico. This decision was precipitated by the ICE detention of Laura Secundino-Portano, the mother of owner Leticia Gomez. The family stated in a Facebook post that "family is our highest priority," and consequently, they would close the shop to remain together and support her. Secundino-Portano’s arrest, according to Georgia State Patrol records obtained by WTVC, was initially for driving without a valid license and two other traffic violations. She was subsequently transferred to ICE custody. The closure of Buenos Dias Coffee represents a loss for the Rossville community and another instance of a family business being dismantled due to immigration enforcement.
Jacksonville, Florida: Artessence Coffee Shop
August 2025 saw the temporary closure of Artessence Coffee Shop in Jacksonville, Florida. The co-owner, whose wife is also a business partner, initiated efforts to locate her after she was transferred to ICE custody. The arrest occurred on August 2nd, during what her family described as a mental-health crisis. A subsequent Department of Homeland Security filing asserted probable cause for her removability from the United States, as reported by local news outlets. The situation created significant uncertainty for the business. By September 2025, the company had been sold to local Jacksonville residents, Soner and Gina Acar, according to the Jacksonville Business Journal. This instance illustrates how a business can be forced into sale or closure due to the immigration status and detention of a key figure, even when that figure’s initial encounter with law enforcement was reportedly related to a mental health incident.
Oceanside, California: Sands Coffee Roasters
The expansion plans for Sands Coffee Roasters in Oceanside, California, were significantly derailed in February 2026 when founder Assim Alkhawaja was detained. Alkhawaja, who was working as a rideshare driver to help finance the development of a permanent shop, was detained on February 16th while dropping off passengers at Camp Pendleton. NBC 7 San Diego reported that Alkhawaja’s family maintained he possessed an active work permit, a pending asylum application, and no criminal record. He was held at the Otay Mesa Detention Center for approximately eight days before being released on bond. Subsequently, he was placed in removal proceedings and required to wear a GPS monitor, according to The Guardian. The detention of Alkhawaja not only paused his business’s growth but also subjected him to a lengthy legal process with significant personal and financial implications.
Beyond Owners: Detention of Employees and Farm Workers
The impact of ICE enforcement actions extends beyond business owners and their immediate families. Several coffee businesses have also experienced disruptions due to the detention of their employees.
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota: Crumbs & Coffee
Crumbs & Coffee in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, ceased operations entirely after ICE detained cook Jorge Leonardo Vergara Rubio in December 2025. Co-owner Marcio Luis De Morais described to CBS Minnesota a sophisticated apprehension strategy employed by plainclothes agents who entered the cafe as customers before luring Rubio into the parking lot under the pretense of a vehicle collision. The loss of their cook, coupled with a reported 60% decline in sales and two months of missed rent payments, ultimately led to the cafe’s permanent closure, as reported by The Minnesota Daily. This case highlights how the removal of even a single essential employee can have catastrophic consequences for a small business.
Oregon: Elka Bee’s Coffee
In October 2025, the owner of Elka Bee’s Coffee in Oregon reported to KOIN 6 News that federal immigration authorities detained two of their employees. This detention occurred despite the employees reportedly possessing valid work permits for the United States. The details surrounding the detentions and the employees’ immigration status beyond their work permits remain unclear, but the incident underscores a broader concern among employers regarding the enforcement actions targeting individuals with documented authorization to work.
Hawaii’s Big Island: Impact on Coffee Harvest
The 2025 coffee harvest on Hawaii’s Big Island was significantly affected by ICE operations. Community members informed Honolulu Civil Beat that over 100 coffee farm workers along the island’s southern coast were arrested and removed. While ICE did not provide specific arrest figures, farmers reported that other seasonal workers, including some with legal residency or work authorization, chose not to travel to Hawaii due to fears of detention. This situation illustrates how broader immigration enforcement can create a climate of fear that disrupts entire agricultural sectors, impacting production, labor availability, and the economic stability of farms that rely on seasonal workforces.
Broader Implications and Analysis
The recurring instances of ICE detentions impacting coffee businesses raise several important considerations:
- Economic Vulnerability of Small Businesses: Small businesses, particularly those in the food service industry like coffee shops, often operate on thin margins. The unexpected departure or detention of a key owner or employee can create an immediate financial crisis, leading to reduced revenue, inability to meet operational costs, and ultimately, closure.
- Community Impact: The closure of businesses like City Watch Coffee, Buenos Dias Coffee, and Crumbs & Coffee means the loss of local jobs, community gathering spaces, and contributions to the local economy. This has a ripple effect on the surrounding neighborhoods.
- Legal and Personal Ramifications: The cases highlight the complex interplay between past actions, current immigration status, and the pursuit of the American dream. Individuals who have established businesses, families, and community ties can face severe consequences due to immigration enforcement, often leading to forced relocation and the dismantling of their lives in the U.S.
- Workforce Stability: The detentions of employees, even those with work permits, create an environment of uncertainty for businesses that rely on a stable workforce. This can lead to recruitment challenges and increased operational costs as businesses scramble to replace essential staff.
- The Role of Past Offenses: The narrative from Ratha San’s wife brings to light the long-term consequences of youthful indiscretions, even after individuals have demonstrably reformed and contributed positively to society. The revocation of immigration status based on past offenses, regardless of subsequent rehabilitation, can have devastating and far-reaching effects.
- ICE Enforcement Strategies: The reported methods of apprehension, such as plainclothes agents entering businesses or the use of pretexts to draw individuals out, raise questions about the impact of these tactics on public perception and the operational security of businesses.
The ongoing pattern of ICE detentions disrupting the coffee industry underscores the human element within immigration enforcement. These are not just abstract legal proceedings; they are events that profoundly impact families, employees, and the very fabric of small businesses that contribute to the diverse economic landscape of the United States. As these cases continue to emerge, they invite a deeper examination of the balance between immigration enforcement and the support of established community members and small enterprises.
