Lang
9/26/25
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement has issued an official statement on Thursday’s incident at the Bread Garden Market in downtown Iowa City.
Multiple videos circulating on social media show Jorge González Ochoa of Sycamore Street being taken from the Bread Garden by force by two individuals wearing plain clothes just before 11 a.m. At one point late in the interaction, one of the men identified himself only by saying “federal agent”. The two men and a third subject then placed González Ochoa into an unmarked vehicle and drove away. Iowa City Police were called to the disturbance, but they arrived after the men had left the scene.
ICE has now identified the men as three of its agents. A statement to Iowa’s News Now says González Ochoa…which ICE identifies only as “Gonzalez” …was under investigation for fraud. He is also now accused of attempting to evade and resisting arrest. ICE goes on to say its agents identified themselves to Bread Garden management. Bread Garden owner Jim Mondanaro told KGAN that the men entered the business unannounced.
ICE added, “Claims that this lawful action was unprovoked, dangerous, or akin to an abduction are false, reckless, and irresponsible. Such inflammatory rhetoric endangers ICE officers and agents and misleads the public. “
ICE also condemned what it calls “interference from agitators”, although video of the incident only shows a U.S. veteran recording the agents while asking them to identify themselves.