José Andrés asks Trump to release Michigan father arrested by ICE

• He joins at least two state lawmakers — Sen. Stephanie Chang of Detroit and Sen. Darrin Camilleri of Trenton — in supporting Jose Jaimes, 55, who owns a painting business, was born in Mexico and has lived in the U.S. for 30 years, the Free Press reported.

The other side: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Jaimes is an "illegal alien from Mexico" who was ordered to be removed by an immigration judge in 2014, per the Freep.

• ICE hasn't responded to an Axios request for confirmation.

What they're saying: Andrés pleaded with Trump to release Jaimes and pass immigration reform in a post to X on Sunday.

• "Mr. Jose Jaimes is a hard working immigrant," he wrote. "Remember the immigration issue is not a problem for you to solve but an opportunity for you to seize."

Context: Since founding World Central Kitchen in 2010, Andrés has become as well known for his humanitarian work as his restaurants — feeding survivors of earthquakes in Haiti, hurricanes in Puerto Rico and wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

• He's also butted heads with Trump in the past. After then-candidate Trump made disparaging comments about Mexicans in 2016, Andrés pulled down his plan to open a restaurant at a Trump hotel.

What's next: Jaimes remains in ICE custody pending the outcome of his immigration proceedings, the Freep reported.