ALERT: ICE Raid at Memphis Bar Leaves 120 Detained

ICE agents and the Homeland Security Investigations Service, known as HSI, executed a joint operation on August 30, 2026 at El Corralón, a bar located on Macon Road in the Berclair neighborhood of Memphis. Community organization Vecindarios901 claims they detained and transported more than 100 people by bus. However, witnesses cited by Hispanic media outlets speak of at least 120 detainees. ICE confirmed the operation but has not released official figures, identities of the detainees, or their current location.

What Happened During the ICE Raid?

The operation began around 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 30, 2026 at El Corralón, a bar located on Macon Road in the Berclair neighborhood, northeast of Memphis. Federal agents arrived at the location with a search warrant linked to an investigation into illegal gambling machines and alleged drug trafficking activity. Vecindarios901, an immigrant advocacy organization in Shelby County, confirmed the information.

Witnesses said agents first surrounded the area and then began detaining dozens of people who were inside the establishment. José Salazar, one of the witnesses, told N+ Univision that he found a scene marked by the anguish of family members of those detained.

«When I arrived at the scene there were many young people crying because their fathers had been detained, there were children crying, there were women screaming,» Salazar said. The witness, who has spent more than 15 years documenting such incidents, described the deployment as one of the largest he has witnessed in the area.

How Many People Were Detained?

The exact number of detainees remains without official confirmation. Vecindarios901 maintains that more than 100 people were detained and transported from the location by bus, while witnesses cited by Univision speak of at least 120 arrests.

An ICE spokesman confirmed through a statement that the agency conducted «a selective enforcement multiagency operation on Macon Road in Memphis, Tennessee» on August 30, but did not provide additional details. «This is an ongoing investigation. More information will be released when available,» the spokesman said, cited by Memphis Commercial Appeal.

As of Monday, August 31, authorities had not publicly disclosed the exact number of people detained, their identities, where they were taken, or whether criminal charges were filed.

What Did Memphis City Hall Say About the Participation