When Ruperto Vicens-Marquez failed to arrive for his early morning shift on October 17, his brother and business partner Emilio immediately sensed something was wrong. The co-owner of Emilio's Kitchen in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, knew his brother's absence was completely out of character.
Emilio repeatedly tried calling his brother without success, eventually contacting his sister-in-law who confirmed Ruperto had left home hours earlier. The disturbing truth emerged later that day when Ruperto called to explain he had been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents directly in front of St. Agnes Catholic Church, just one block from their restaurant.
Community Rallies Behind Beloved Chef
The arrest shocked the small Jersey Shore community where the Vicens-Marquez brothers had become beloved figures through their popular "Puebla-inspired" restaurant. Emilio's Kitchen operates two locations serving organic Mexican cuisine, with the original Atlantic Highlands establishment boasting nearly 700 Google reviews and an impressive 4.9-star average rating.
According to court documents obtained by HuffPost, Ruperto had moved to the United States from Mexico in 2007 and renewed his visa last year, making him legally authorized to live in the country until at least 2029. The head chef described the detention as a case of mistaken identity, telling HuffPost: "They were looking for somebody else. It wasn't me at all. I was just there."
ICE provided a conflicting statement to PIX 11 News, characterizing Ruperto as "a Mexican national who previously entered the United States illegally and was issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge on July 18, 2025." The agency also referenced a prior arrest for resisting arrest and local ordinance violations.
Legal Battle and Community Support
Ruperto's attorney, Steven Lyons, strongly disputed ICE's claims. "Ruperto is not subject to, nor was ever issued, a final order of removal," Lyons stated, noting his client had received a five-year work authorization from USCIS. He clarified that the prior arrest resulted only in a fine for disturbing the peace, with the resisting arrest charge being dismissed.
The Atlantic Highlands community mobilized immediately upon learning of Ruperto's detention. Mayor Lori Hohenleitner created a GoFundMe campaign that raised over $96,000 from approximately 1,300 donors to support legal efforts. Community members also organized two demonstrations and submitted at least 45 letters of support to the court.
Judge Katharine S. Hayden intervened on October 30, signing an order preventing Ruperto's transfer or deportation. Despite ICE maintaining he was ineligible for bond, the judge eventually ordered a bond hearing within seven days of November 6 after Lyons filed a petition for habeas corpus.
Freedom After 33 Days
Ruperto was granted release on November 13, but a faulty electronic payment system delayed his freedom until November 18, when Mayor Hohenleitner and Kerri Kennedy of American Friends Service Committee drove to Newark to pay his bond in person.
Kennedy emphasized the extraordinary effort required for Ruperto's release, noting: "And this is when you have $100,000 in a GoFundMe ready for legal fees. You have the whole town behind you. You have a mayor, you have somebody who's an executive in this field. That's what it took, and he was still in for another extra five days."
As part of his release conditions, Ruperto must temporarily wear an ankle monitor, keeping him "entrenched in the legal system, even though he has his authorization and was released," according to Kennedy.
The Atlantic Highlands community welcomed Ruperto home with an emotional rally on Saturday, concluding with Emilio's Kitchen feeding community members. Reflecting on his experience, Ruperto said: "When a lot of people get together, at least in my case, things are possible. Miracles happen."
He also expressed hope that his case might inspire others in detention, noting that when detainees see people being released, "that would give some hope they have a chance. It's worth it sometimes to keep fighting."
Broader Immigration Context
Ruperto's case occurred amid the Trump administration's aggressive deportation agenda, which aims to detain 3,000 people daily. According to Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse data from September, 71.5% of detainees lack any criminal convictions.
Mayor Hohenleitner condemned the political climate, declaring: "Trump's dark America is not going to penetrate Atlantic Highlands. We're going to fight back, and we are going to protect our own."
Despite the ordeal, Emilio expressed gratitude for their American experience, saying: "I was lost when I came to this country, full of fear. But if I have to go tomorrow, I guess I have to." He added that without experiencing "hearts or souls full of hate or division," he might not appreciate "the difference between that and compassion and love."
Ruperto plans to continue growing his business and giving back to the community that supported him, stating: "What I want to do is just keep trying to grow, keep trying to do the right thing, keep trying to be better every day."
