ANN ARBOR, MI - Three individuals remain in federal custody after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained a group of men at Sava's Restaurant in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, May 24, the agency confirmed.

Restaurant owner Sava Lelcaj told The Ann Arbor News that ICE agents ate at the restaurant, 216 S. State Street, around 11:30 a.m. before entering the kitchen area to look for an employee who was not on duty.

The agents detained multiple people, but released one, she said.

ICE confirmed Wednesday evening that three men accused of being in the U.S. illegally were arrested and remain in custody.

"While conducting a targeted enforcement action at Sava's restaurant in Ann Arbor, Michigan, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers encountered and arrested three individuals on immigration violations," said ICE public affairs officer Rachael Yong Yow.

"Sergio Cardenas Rubio and Jesus Ortiz Hernandez unlawfully entered the United States without inspection at an unknown date and location. Mohamed Souman lawfully entered the country, but did not depart in accordance with the terms of his status. All three are currently in ICE custody."

The agency did not respond to requests for further comment.

Lelcaj said Wednesday afternoon that her company, Savco Hospitality, puts potential employees through a vetting process to determine employment eligibility, and that she believes the arrested employees were legally in the U.S.

She could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday evening.

Ann Arbor Police Chief Jim Baird was made aware by ICE of a targeted enforcement detail at an Ann Arbor restaurant on Wednesday morning within an hour of the ICE presence there, Ann Arbor police Detective Lt. Matthew Lige said.

The department was not asked to participate in the enforcement, did not take part in it and was not involved in any prior investigation related to immigration at the restaurant, he said.