Emiliano’s Mexican Restaurant locations raided by ICE
Sixteen people were taken into custody Thursday, Aug. 7, after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided a Mexican restaurant’s Cranberry Township, Butler County, and Richland Township, Allegheny County, locations.
Cranberry Township Police chief Kevin Meyer confirmed his officers assisted in securing a perimeter around Emiliano’s Mexican Restaurant & Bar while federal officials investigated.
ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations Pittsburgh Offices along with agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the United States Marshals Service; the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, were involved Thursday, according to an ICE spokesperson.
“During the execution of the search warrants, 16 individuals were encountered and found to be illegally present in the United States,” the spokesperson said. “These 16 individuals were taken into ICE custody and placed into immigration proceedings.
“As this is an ongoing investigation, no further details are available at this time.”
Butler County Sheriff Mike Slupe said Thursday his deputies were not involved in the operation as they have not yet received ICE training.
The restaurant, which has four Pittsburgh area locations, including in Cranberry Township and Richland Township, Allegheny County, posted a video to its Facebook page Thursday showing damage to one of the restaurant’s locations in the back-of-house areas.
“Federal agents stormed our restaurants in a show of force that went far beyond anything reasonable or human,” the business said in the Facebook post signed “The Emiliano’s Family.” “They didn’t just detain people — they raided the heart of our business, tore through our spaces and left behind a trail of fear, confusion and destruction.”
The Cranberry Township location was closed Thursday afternoon with a paper posted to the door reading “closed.” The date, Aug. 7, was written in the top right corner of the paper.
A few people approached the restaurant on Thursday afternoon, but turned away and walked back to their vehicles upon seeing the closed sign.
The business said its kitchens were flipped, its walk-in cooler and freezer emptied, its food trashed and its doors broken.
The video shows at least two people walking through one of the restaurants following the raid.
“Insurance is going to love this,” the one said.
Later, a woman’s voice said, “The kitchen’s on fire.”
“Why would they turn the kitchen on fire,” a voice replied.
Later, their conversation continued as they surveyed the damage.
“I’m sorry, but this is wrong,” one said.
The post said the restaurant will reopen and is working with legal experts and community partners to support the people affected. It said they will be sharing ways to support the affected families and contribute to the restaurant’s recovery.
“And we will keep feeding this city with love, dignity and purpose,” the business said.
The phone lines for the Cranberry Township and Gibsonia locations appeared to be inoperable Thursday afternoon. The restaurant in Cranberry Township appeared vacant with only a single television playing inside.
Eagle Staff Writer Zach Zimmerman contributed to this report.
