Montoursville Mexican restaurant manager facing federal immigration charges, including allegedly employing undocumented workers
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A Montoursville restaurant manager has been indicted and charged by officials from the Department of Homeland Security with illegal re-entry and allegedly employing individuals who were undocumented, many with false Social Security numbers.
Jose Felix Ramirez-Cabrera, who was living in the borough and was manager of Mr. Chilaquil's Mexican Grill & Cantina, 1130 Broad St., a restaurant believed by prosecutors to be owned by a relative of Ramirez-Cabrera, faces federal charges, according to Geoffrey MacArthur, assistant U.S. attorney.
As a result of his 2001 removal, Ramirez-Cabrera's presence in Montoursville in August was not only an administrative violation of the Immigration and Naturalization Act (for which Ramirez-Cabrera
will face deportation), but also constituted the crime of illegal re-entry, federal officials said.
Ramirez-Cabrera, who was indicted by a grand jury, charged him on Aug. 27. On Sept. 23, he was arrested at Mr. Chilaquil's.
He was in an office at the restaurant at the time of his arrest. Also present at the restaurant was Carlos Garcia Claudio, who, like Ramirez-Cabrera, had a criminal arrest warrant for illegal re-entry.
Three other workers at the restaurant were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials because they had no legal status in the country.
Additionally, the residence of Ramirez-Cabrera was searched by local authorities shortly after his arrest at the restaurant.
One individual was detained by ICE at that location because he did not have any legal status in the United States.
Local business records were obtained for the restaurant.
The records show 15 employees, including Ramirez-Cabrera. Of the 15 employees, nine have the same address at Ramirez-Cabrera, including Garcia Claudio, who was also arrested at the same time as Ramirez-Cabrera.
A Homeland Security Agent performed a check of the Social Security numbers that were listed on the record.
Out of the 15 employees, 12 have Social Security numbers that are "no match."
These include four SSN's of deceased persons (including the SSN used by Ramirez-Cabrera), court records show.
Moreover, four SSN's that belong to other persons besides the employees listed; and four SSN's were for which no record exists.
At his initial appearance on this case on Sept. 23, 2026, prosecutors tried to have him detained. U.S. Magistrate Judge Sean A. Camoni released Ramirez-Cabrera on conditions and he remains detained by ICE under immigration law.
A hearing has been scheduled on Ramirez-Cabrera's case to begin at noon Oct. 14 at the federal courthouse before Chief U.S. District Judge Matthew W. Brann.