Bakery Workers Detained In Immigration Raid

SAN DIEGO -- Federal immigration officials detained about a dozen people Thursday at a local French bakery and catering company on suspected immigration violations.

Agents executed a criminal search warrant at the French Gourmet, a local institution in Pacific Beach known for its wedding cakes, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Lauren Mack.

Mack said she did not know the nationalities of those detained and declined further comment because the investigation is ongoing.

Workers in chef's whites and floppy toques were searched in a delivery area behind the restaurant before being taken to a different location for questioning.

The raid was the first at the 29-year-old company, according to French Gourmet marketing manager Jodi Breslow. Agents were still on the premises six hours after the raid, she said.

Twelve scheduled catering events proceeded as scheduled after the raid and bakers continued preparing wedding cakes for weekend ceremonies, Breslow said.