ICE pulls over Texas Monthly’s taco editor while reporting in West Texas

essentialsaltes · Jan 25, 2026

I guess being brown and eating tacos creates a nexus of illegal behavior.

Ralat, who’s built a national following for his expert reporting on tacos and regional Mexican food, frequently travels throughout Texas for work. He detailed the encounter with federal agents in a three-part Instagram video titled “Taco Editor meets ICE,” which he posted this week. According to Ralat, the incident occurred near Presidio, a small border town in the Big Bend region.

“Well, it finally happened — I came face to face with ICE agents,” Ralat said in one of the clips, adding that he and his colleague Rodrigo Bravo Jr. were stopped while driving in the area.

Adding that he had a lot of support from Texas Monthly, his family and his documents (“I travel with a passport now,” Ralat noted), the senior taco editor admitted how shaken he was.

“I can’t wait for this to be over,” he said.

loveofourlord · Jan 25, 2026

essentialsaltes said:
I guess being brown and eating tacos creates a nexus of illegal behavior.

Ralat, who’s built a national following for his expert reporting on tacos and regional Mexican food, frequently travels throughout Texas for work. He detailed the encounter with federal agents in a three-part Instagram video titled “Taco Editor meets ICE,” which he posted this week. According to Ralat, the incident occurred near Presidio, a small border town in the Big Bend region.

“Well, it finally happened — I came face to face with ICE agents,” Ralat said in one of the clips, adding that he and his colleague Rodrigo Bravo Jr. were stopped while driving in the area.

Adding that he had a lot of support from Texas Monthly, his family and his documents (“I travel with a passport now,” Ralat noted), the senior taco editor admitted how shaken he was.

“I can’t wait for this to be over,” he said.

probably thought he was mocking Trump.

Landon Caeli · Jan 25, 2026

Thing is, politicians still haven't figured out how immigration is going to be revamped going forward, to make something that actually works. LOL.!!

...Just get mad. It's the perfect solution.

Landon Caeli · Jan 25, 2026

More media content, and outrage are actually good for the economy. Yes, innocent people may suffer and die, but economically, it is profitable.

See "outrage economy". Also, remember to shop local when protesting in the hundreds or thousands. Help your local business owners.

Trogdor the Burninator · Jan 25, 2026

"People being stopped at checkpoints and questioned about their movements" used to be a thing in the Soviet Block and third world dictatorships. Now it seems America has joined that exclusive club. Land of the Free LOL

Landon Caeli · Jan 25, 2026

Trogdor the Burninator said:
"People being stopped at checkpoints and questioned about their movements" used to be a thing in the Soviet Block and third world dictatorships. Now it seems America has joined that exclusive club. Land of the Free LOL

When you have a severely broken immigration system, and nobody is willing to lift a finger, you'll see 'strage' results.

...Maybe this is a sign. But people don't believe in "signs" anymore, that's nostalgic nonsense.

Instead, let's fight.

essentialsaltes · Jan 25, 2026

Landon Caeli said:
When you have a severely broken immigration system, and nobody is willing to lift a finger, you'll see 'strage' results.

Illegal or unconstitutional actions by our government need to be stopped. They can be weird if they wanna be.

Belk · Jan 25, 2026

Landon Caeli said:
When you have a severely broken immigration system, and nobody is willing to lift a finger, you'll see 'strage' results.

...Maybe this is a sign. But people don't believe in "signs" anymore, that's nostalgic nonsense.

Instead, let's fight.

If only we could count on those on the right to champion change in our immigration system.

Landon Caeli · Jan 25, 2026

essentialsaltes said:
Illegal or unconstitutional actions by our government need to be stopped. They can be weird if they wanna be.

If something is illegal, I just don't understand how it's allowed to continue. Surely this whole thing could be handled by protesters doing smart things, like protesting in the appropriate places like the government agencies that actually *PASS THE LAWS*, not in the streets, causing intense situations with armed individuals... No amount of training can ever guarantee a protesters safety when hundreds of civilians are cornering officers, and shouting in their faces. That's dumb behavior.

Go corner the politicians, at their work locations, and yell in their faces if you truly expect to have an effect.

Landon Caeli · Jan 25, 2026

Belk said:
If only we could count on those on the right to champion change in our immigration system.

Im not a protester. I joined a million man marijuana march in Chicago when I was 15, but only because I happened to be walking by, and I just fell in line with a friend of mine because we were bored, and thought it looked interesting because they had bongos and congas.

But no, if people were smart, they would go to the *source* and hold signs that say things about legislation, law, etc., rather than "ICE GET OUT" OR "ICE melt" or something meaningless, and unintelligent - then they could actually consider themselves as useful people.

<EDIT> Also, I feel like me (as someone on the right) posting this here about changing legislation is doing something. If anything, perhaps it will plant a seed somewhere, and make it into someone else's mind who can do more with it, or at least has the capability to.

Belk · Jan 25, 2026

Landon Caeli said:
Im not a protester. I joined a million man marijuana march in Chicago when I was 15, but only because I happened to be walking by, and I just fell in line with a friend of mine because we were bored, and thought it looked interesting because they had bongos and congas.

Cool story, changed my life.

Landon Caeli said:
But no, if people were smart, they would go to the *source* and hold signs that say things about legislation, law, etc., rather than "ICE GET OUT" OR "ICE melt" or something meaningless, and unintelligent - then they could actually consider themselves as useful people.

Landon Caeli · Jan 25, 2026

Belk said:
Cool story, changed my life.

View attachment 375753

I just don't think you get it. Try it again tomorrow after your morning coffee.

Belk · Jan 25, 2026

Landon Caeli said:
I just don't think you get it. Try it again tomorrow after your morning coffee.

Landon Caeli · Jan 26, 2026

...Real mature.

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ICE pulls over Texas Monthly’s taco editor while reporting in West Texas

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