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A longtime North Jersey bakery accused in online rumors of conspiring with federal immigration officials amid local raids is setting the record straight.
"We would never, ever do that," said Virginia Media, 27, whose parents, Jorge Medina, 67, and Evelyn Castallanos, 60, own Medina Bakery & Restaurant on Anderson Avenue in Fairview.
The couple immigrated from Guatemala nearly 30 years ago. Evelyn got her start as a house cleaner, and Jorge in the ceramic and tile business. Both Evelyn and Jorge became US citizens and raised their eight children in Cliffside Park.
Virginia Medina says her family noticed a drop in business around the time ICE began making arrests in Fairview and surrounding towns. It wasn't until three weeks ago, she said, that people started sending her family screenshots of comments shared to social media, saying that she and her siblings were conspiring with immigration officials.
"It’s concerning because before this whole situation with ICE and all the raids in our area, no one has ever heard such a rumor about us or our family or our business," Medina said. "My parents have always helped out the community in every way, shape and form whether it be financially, physically, or donating supplies or food to the schools. "It's devastating to see that people truly believe such a thing."
Medina's Bakery issued a public statement on Wednesday, Feb. 4, saying:
"As a family-owned business that has worked hard...
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