Lloyd apologized late Thursday morning, calling the decision to send the truck to "a lapse in judgment" and stressing its close ties to the immigrant community here.

This inspired a backlash from many, including Republican office-holders, who felt the Lloyd apology was a slap against police and law enforcement. In fact, Cimino said Monday, the company has had customers cancel three truck visits in the five "exceptionally challenging" days since the controversy flared up.

However, Cimino did say he expects those businesses to return as Lloyd customers in the near future.

In all, the company has received about 5,000 comments since Wednesday, on both sides of the divide, and more than 90% were critical.

Lloyd executives said Monday they were too quick to issue the initial apology and they shouldn't have taken sides in a fraught political landscape. Cimino said at the news conference that the food truck was parked outside the detention center and served meals to anyone in the area, not just to Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees.

“We make tacos, not war,” Cimino said. “We serve all communities. We go to all neighborhoods. We are not political. Why would we be? How can any business choose sides in our politically divided country and ever succeed?”