MIAMI — A witness recorded a video showing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stopping a man who was riding a scooter and detaining him on Aug. 2 in Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood.
Haitian-Bahamian Chef Wilkinson “Ken” Sejour said ICE agents detained the scooter rider steps away from his restaurant, Chef Creole, at 200 NW 54th St., and his customers were staying away.
Sejour, whose celebrity guests included the late Anthony Bourdain, said the witness’s video recorded near the drive-thru area prompted false rumors that ICE had raided his restaurant.
“You are taking key people, and now you are giving people the impression that it’s not even safe to come to my business,” Sejour said about the impact of the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Sejour said the expiration of TPS work permits for Haitians hurt his workforce. His labor expenses had increased before the recent ICE detention nearby scared away customers.
On Wednesday night, the lines at an annual back to school supply event in Little Haiti weren’t as long as they’ve been in the past.
“The community is shook. This is a prime example,” said event organizer Success St. Fleur Jr. “Before I get here there’s usually a long line of families waiting. That’s why this year we wanted to have more of an attraction, because of the past with so many people.”
St. Fleur said the difference is apparent, and so is the reason why.
“What’s sad is TPS isn’t only affecting Haitians and it’s not only affecting the people who are from Haiti,” said St. Fleur. “Because me, who’s Haitian-American, born here, I have friends, family, colleagues, and now so many people who don’t know what to do.”
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling on June 25 allowed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to end Temporary Protected Status for about 300,000 Haitians on July 27.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has been supportive of President Donald Trump’s immigration policy and has expanded state-federal partnerships in Florida.
Sejour is among the entrepreneurs in South Florida who say the push for deportations has been having a chilling effect on their businesses. Sejour called for a strategic reassessment.
“Let’s take a little bit more time, let’s try to figure out how we can fix this without it hurting our economy as a whole,” Sejour said.
Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
