A beloved Montclair pastry chef was detained by ICE earlier this week, leaving a community shattered and a restaurant without one of its star employees.
On June 1, Leo Argoti Rubio—a pastry chef at Montclair’s Fauborg and Bijoux—was taken by ICE while visiting a shopping center in Buffalo, New York. He has a pending asylum case, a valid work visa, and a clean record. Leo was detained despite following the legal process to the letter, working honestly, and contributing to his community, raising serious questions about due process.
Friends and community members say he poses no danger—he goes to work every day and earns an honest living.
The arrest comes just weeks after Leo handled pastry making for Latinos of Montclair’s 4th Annual Flavor of South America event—Fauborg’s first time participating. “Leo is a gifted pastry chef who helped make our recent Latinos of Montclair tasting event a success, sharing his craft and his warmth with all of us,” the organization wrote in a GoFundMe launched on his behalf.
Latinos of Montclair is seeking $20,000 to fund Leo’s legal defense, noting that fighting an immigration case is expensive and complex. “Skilled legal representation is the single most important factor in cases like Leo’s. With the right attorney, Leo has a real chance to come home to New Jersey and continue his case in freedom. Without it, he faces this fight alone.”
Leo’s case reflects the Trump administration’s increasingly aggressive approach to immigration enforcement—one that disproportionately affects the restaurant industry. Immigrants are the backbone of that industry, and the arrests of individuals with valid work permits have accelerated during Trump’s second term. Montclair is far from alone in this fight.
You can learn more about Leo’s case and donate to his legal fund here.
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
