A Louisville chef was taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody during a routine probation meeting on February 10. Aldo Renato Soto-Pantoja, 33, was meeting with a pretrial diversion program officer when he was escorted to another room and detained by ICE agents. The Cuban national is in the process of applying for U.S. citizenship.

Attorney Frank Mascagni emphasized that Soto-Pantoja was charged with felony assault in 2023 but has not been convicted. He is participating in a pretrial diversion program that allows for expungement after five years of law-abiding behavior, including paying fees and passing drug tests. Soto-Pantoja has been held at the Oldham County Detention Center since his arrest and faces an April 22 hearing.

Staff at Hauck's Corner, where Soto-Pantoja works as a chef, expressed shock and sadness at his detention. Chef and partner Allan Rosenberg described him as "an amazing human and hard worker" who has been employed at the popular restaurant for several years. The case has raised questions about ICE enforcement practices during routine legal proceedings.