Immigration enforcement is back on the menu in the nation’s capital, and not even media elites are immune. Federal agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched a series of workplace inspections Tuesday, including a high-profile visit to **Chef Geoff’s**, a restaurant owned by **CBS News anchor Norah O’Donnell’s husband**, Geoff Tracy.
As part of a renewed push to uphold America’s immigration laws—after years of lax enforcement under the Biden administration—ICE officers visited at least nine eateries across Washington, D.C., asking for **I-9 forms** to verify that employees are legally eligible to work in the United States. Among the targets were trendy spots like **Millie’s, Officina, Pupatella**, and **Call Your Mother**—many of them staples in the city’s affluent liberal enclaves.
At Chef Geoff’s, agents spent roughly 90 minutes reviewing employment records, though no arrests were made on site. The restaurant is part of a small, upscale chain frequently patronized by Beltway elites.
This was no random sweep. The raid comes just as President Trump’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) resumes its no-nonsense approach to immigration enforcement—one that prioritizes the rule of law over political optics. The latest policy from DHS even offers **\$1,000 in travel assistance** to illegal immigrants who voluntarily return to their home countries, signaling a serious effort to **incentivize self-deportation** over costly and controversial detentions.
“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest, and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest,” said DHS Secretary **Kristi Noem** on Monday. “DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App.”
Back in D.C., not everyone is pleased to see the return of federal immigration enforcement—especially the city’s liberal leadership. Democrat Mayor **Muriel Bowser**, who has long supported sanctuary policies, expressed dismay at the federal crackdown.
“It doesn’t look like they’re targeting criminals,” Bowser complained, ignoring the basic legality of hiring undocumented workers. “It is disrupting,” she added, clarifying that D.C.’s police were not involved in the operations.
Meanwhile, restaurant owners scrambled to manage the surprise visits. At **Millie’s**, the owner said he denied ICE agents access to his employees, though officials did not escalate the situation. Other locations reported more cooperative interactions, with some owners being informed of upcoming inspections in advance.
The quiet but firm return of workplace enforcement suggests that **America’s immigration system is once again moving in the direction of law and order**. While the Biden administration has spent years undermining immigration enforcement in favor of so-called “equity” and open-border policies, the American people—overwhelmingly in favor of **legal immigration and strong borders**—are seeing a shift.
And yes, when even the husband of a **mainstream media personality like Norah O’Donnell** isn’t exempt, it sends a clear message: **under a Trump-led DHS, no one is above the law.**
As this effort picks up steam, one thing is clear: **illegal labor, no matter how upscale the dining room, is finally being held to account.**
