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Emiliano’s Restaurant in South Side Closes Permanently After ICE Enforcement

1 month ago
2 Min Read

Sixteen employees were detained by immigration enforcement officials. 

The South Side location of Emiliano’s restaurant in Pittsburgh is closed amid raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The restaurant’s Bethel Park, Cranberry, and Richland locations are still open for business. On Thursday, the business issued a statement confirming the closure of the South Side location. 

“Like many businesses in our South Side community, we’ve weighed difficult decisions over the past year about how to serve you best in an increasingly challenging business climate. Sadly, we have determined it is necessary to close our South Side location to allow us to more fully focus on making authentic food that brings people together at our other locations,” said the statement. 

Previously, at the beginning of August, the restaurant chain’s Cranberry and Richland locations were searched by federal agents. Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the FBI, and the IRS seized records and took 16 of the restaurant’s employees into custody. 

“We love our customers. We are so thankful for your support over the years, and we sincerely hope to have the opportunity to serve you again at our Cranberry, Gibsonia and Bethel Park locations,” said the restaurant’s statement. 

Following the raid by federal officials, the restaurant raised more than $130,000 on GoFundMe to reportedly help pay for the legal expenses that employees taken into custody are facing. 

The GoFundMe states that the money will be used to cover the bond hearings for each employee, as well as their salaries for the month. However, there have been reports that the money has not been made accessible to the employees. 

Joseph Murphy, an immigration attorney in Pittsburgh, offered to represent the detained employees. Questions about the funds raised by the restaurant have since been raised.

One report on social media said Murphy and clients have not received calls back from Emiliano’s after inquiring about the funds raised through GoFundMe.

As of late August, Murphy said two of the employees had already been deported. He is trying to reach all of the employees to offer pro bono legal services. 

“I’m not offering to pay people’s bond, but I am offering to do the bond hearings for free. That might free up some cash in the family to actually make the bond payment. It’ll be good quality representation like we always do,” said Murphy.