The community came together to support Señor Machetes in downtown Madison after its co-owner, Noel Quintana, was detained by ICE.
Quintana was detained by immigration officials at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on his way back from Mexico on Jan. 23, due to a previous drug-related conviction. In 2006, Quintana pleaded no contest in Dane County to a felony charge for possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute. He is a green card holder and has had no convictions since 2006. Quintana applied to have the 2006 charge pardoned on Feb. 9, WPR reported. He is currently being held in Indiana.
The detainment by ICE has caused dire circumstances for his family. The restaurant is co-owned by his wife, Ofelia Garcia-Anchondo. As they scramble to support Quintana and keep the restaurant going, community members flocked to Senor Machete for a fundraiser to support them on Feb. 13…