Kristi Noem, a figure known for her role in the largest deportation of Hispanics from the United States, chose an unexpected venue to celebrate her 54th birthday—a Mexican restaurant. As part of the festivities, she donned a colorful pink and yellow sombrero, capturing the moment on video as the restaurant staff serenaded her with “Happy Birthday” in Spanish. Naturally, this sparked quite a reaction.

The quaint establishment in Watertown, South Dakota found itself at the center of controversy following the visit. The restaurant, Santo Tequila, has been inundated with negative calls after hosting Noem and her family. The backlash comes from various quarters, especially within the Hispanic community, who have expressed their displeasure with the restaurant’s decision to serve the former Department of Homeland Security secretary.

Critics, including some in the Hispanic community, questioned why Noem wasn’t asked to leave. “Her, and any ICE agents, should always get refused service by any Mexican restaurants as a show of solidarity against what they are doing to migrants,” one commentator suggested. This sentiment stems from Noem’s leadership in President Donald Trump’s stringent immigration policies, which included directing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to conduct extensive raids targeting undocumented immigrants across the nation.

Multiple commenters speculated that workers were probably lining up to spit in Noem’s food. ‘Enjoy bodily fluids in everything you eat,’ a Reddit user posted. But restaurant staff told a different story, claiming they were unaware of who she was at the time, but gave her the usual birthday treatment that anyone would’ve received. ‘Nobody knew her. The waiter just tried to give the best service he can. He didn’t know who it is,’ Santo Tequila’s manager exclusively told the Daily Mail.

He admitted, however, that the restaurant has suffered since Noem dined there on November 29 – a day before her birthday. ‘The day that Kristi came in I received a lot of phone calls, especially from Spanish people. There was a lot of hate,’ he explained. ‘The only thing we know is that we treat everyone equally and they will always be welcome. Our doors will be open to anyone, whenever they come, treating them in the best way and with respect.’

He also told the Daily Mail that it was Noem’s husband, Bryon, who made the reservations. He and other members of the family dined with her at the Mexican restaurant. In the video, Noem has a baby on her lap as a member of the staff took off her government hat and replaced it with the sombrero. The manager said that they will sing in either English or Spanish, whichever those dining prefer.

‘For any celebration, we celebrate it this way, with a hat, singing to them and wishing them a Happy Birthday or a Happy Anniversary.’ But the optics weren’t lost on social media users. ‘Can ya see the irony in this?’ a Facebook user questioned. Another quipped: ‘After the song she has them deported.’ On Reddit one user reacted with: ‘This is beyond trashy… kinda sadistic if you ask me.’ A spokesperson for DHS declined to comment on the video or address the backlash stemming from the Secretary’s birthday video.