Popular Pittsburgh Restaurant Chain Reopens After ICE Raid

PITTSBURGH, PA — A Pittsburgh Mexican restaurant chain has reopened following a significant fundraising effort after an ICE raid last week in which 16 employees were detained.

Emailano's, with locations in Cranberry, Gibsonia, Bethel Park and South Side raised $132,000 as of Tuesday afternoon via a GoFundMe Page.

An employee on Tuesday said all locations were open but declined further comment.

The message on the GoFundMe page spole volumes, however.

"At Emiliano’s, we’ve always been more than a restaurant. We’re a family — and like many restaurants in this country, we are built on the backs of immigrants. We will not apologize for that. What you saw on the news doesn’t tell the full story.

"Federal agents stormed our restaurants in a show of force that went far beyond anything reasonable or humane. 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.

"A lot has happened. It's safe to say our restaurant was trashed, and lives were shattered.

"But what they can’t destroy is who we are.

"We stand by our team. We are working with legal experts and community partners to support the people impacted. And we will not stay silent while fear and intimidation tear through our community."