Court records say a division of Immigration and Customs Enforcement got a tip about a year ago that Zipps Sports Grills were employing undocumented people.
Court records also say the tipster told authorities that Zipps management knew staff was using fake documents to work.
Agents with Homeland Security Investigations followed up in March by inspecting employment eligibility records. Then they crosschecked the information with state data on wage earnings and found evidence of identity fraud.
1 of
— zipps-phoenix-ice-2-20260126.jpeg
Masked federal agents outside the Zipps Sports Grill near 32nd Street and Shea Boulevard in Phoenix on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026.
Matthew Casey / KJZZ
2 of
— zipps-ahwatukee-agents-20260126.jpg
Masked federal agents outside the Zipps Sports Grill near Warner Road and 48th Street in Phoenix on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
3 of
— zipps-puente-tempe-20260126.png
Advocates with the Puente Human Rights Movement gathered outside of a Zipps Sports Grill in south Tempe, near Warner Road and McClintock Drive, on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026.
Chad Snow / KJZZ
4 of
— zipps-ice-tempe-20260126.jpg
Law enforcement outside Zipps Sports Grill on Mill Avenue near University Drive in Tempe on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026.
Nick Sanchez / KJZZ
5 of
— zipps-ahwatukee-ice-20260126.jpg
A masked federal agent outside the Zipps Sports Grill near Warner Road and 48th Street in Phoenix on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
6 of
— zipps-south-tempe-20260126.jpeg
Zipps Sports Grill in south Tempe, near Warner Road and McClintock Drive, on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026.
Chad Snow / KJZZ
7 of
— zipps-ahwatukee-ice-2-20260126.jpg
Masked federal agents outside the Zipps Sports Grill near Warner Road and 48th Street in Phoenix on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. About 30 people stood outside observing.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
8 of
— zipps-phoenix-ice-20260126.jpeg
Masked federal agents outside the Zipps Sports Grill near 32nd Street and Shea Boulevard in Phoenix on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026.
Matthew Casey / KJZZ
9 of
— ahwatukee-ice-observer-20260126.jpg
People record federal agents outside the Zipps Sports Grill near Warner Road and 48th Street in Phoenix on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
10 of
— zipps-federal-agents-observers-20260126.jpg
People record federal agents outside the Zipps Sports Grill near Warner Road and 48th Street in Phoenix on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
11 of
— zipps-phoenix-ice-3-20260126.jpeg
Masked federal agents outside the Zipps Sports Grill near 32nd Street and Shea Boulevard in Phoenix on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026.
Matthew Casey / KJZZ
12 of
— zipps-ahwatukee-ice-zoom-20260126.jpg
A masked federal agent outside the Zipps Sports Grill near Warner Road and 48th Street in Phoenix on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
13 of
— federal-immigration-raid-zipps-4-20260126.jpg
A masked agent sits inside Zipps Sports Grill near 48th Street and Warner Road in Phoenix on Jan. 27, 2026.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
14 of
— federal-immigration-raid-zipps-1-20260126.jpg
An agent wearing a U.S. Border Patrol vest Zipps Sports Grill in Ahwatukee on Jan. 27, 2026. Federal agents served warrants at 15 Zipps locations around the Phoenix area.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
15 of
— federal-immigration-raid-zipps-2-20260126.jpg
An agent wearing a Border Patrol vest stands outside Zipps Sports Grill in Ahwatukee on Jan. 27, 2026. Federal agents served warrants at 15 Zipps locations around the Phoenix area.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
16 of
— federal-immigration-raid-zipps-3-20260126.jpg
An agent wearing U.S. Marshals gear stands outside Zipps Sports Grill in Ahwatukee on Jan. 27, 2026. Federal agents served warrants at 15 Zipps locations around the Phoenix area.
Tim Agne / KJZZ
17 of
— goldies sports grill scottsdale 20260128.jpeg
The Goldie's Sports Grill near 96th Street and Shea Boulevard, owned by Zipps Sports Grill, remained closed on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026.
Phil Latzman / KJZZ
18 of
— zipps sign phoenix 20260128.jpg
The Zipps Sports Grill location on Bethany Home Road and 16th Street was closed and had a sign outside on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026.
Camryn Sanchez / KJZZ
Thirty nine people were reportedly arrested when agents served search warrants on Monday.
The person who reportedly oversees hiring at all Zipps locations faces charges of knowingly employing undocumented people, lying on federal forms and other crimes.
