Several food truck companies are facing fierce public backlash after being spotted serving meals at Florida’s newly built migrant detention center, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz.”
The viral outcry began after a TikTok user filmed Kona Ice, Churro Mania, Elote Lovers, and Ms. Cheezious food trucks entering the facility on July 1. The video, posted by @Osozalez, has since racked up over 7.5 million views with the caption: “They love our food but hate our people.”
The footage sparked a wave of criticism online, with many calling for a boycott. One user wrote, “My kids are NEVER getting Kona Ice again,” while another added, “Are they seriously celebrating with food from the very people they’re detaining?”
Food Trucks Under Fire
The four companies have since issued statements distancing themselves from the detention center, which was hastily constructed on a decommissioned airstrip in the Everglades to support President Donald Trump’s escalating deportation agenda. Trump personally toured the facility earlier this week, just days before the first detainees were transferred in.
According to The Miami Herald, the trucks were hired to provide food for construction crews building the center — not for any political event. Other reports claimed the vendors catered a limited, one-time gathering on-site.
Still, the backlash was swift and intense.
“Boycott them ALL,” one commenter wrote. “They can’t get my money EVER again!”
Companies Respond to Outrage
Churro Mania, which operates more than 120 locations across the Americas, wrote on Instagram:
“This is not an event we support. We have no political agenda, and never have. Still, we take full responsibility for how this looked.”
Ms. Cheezious, a Miami-based grilled cheese food truck, said it was contracted by a disaster response firm to feed military personnel:
“Contrary to misleading narratives, our presence was not part of any celebration or grand opening, and we are not providing ongoing services.”
Elote Lovers, founded by an immigrant family, issued a lengthy statement clarifying:
“We do not support, condone, or align ourselves with any form of oppression, abuse, or injustice. We never have and never will.”
They added they would now screen bookings more carefully to ensure their values are upheld.
Kona Ice, the popular shaved ice chain, explained that their trucks are run by independent franchisees:
“This event was booked through an agency, and the franchisee was unaware of the facility’s nature or political context.”
The detention center, expected to cost $450 million per year to operate, has drawn widespread criticism. A recent poll showed nearly half of Americans disapprove of “Alligator Alcatraz,” which was completed in just eight days and has already started housing migrant detainees.
The incident underscores how companies — even those in food and hospitality — can quickly find themselves at the center of political firestorms in today’s climate of hyper-awareness and accountability.
