ST. LOUIS – FOX 2 News has learned exclusive further details involving those immigration raids at a popular St. Peters buffet.

On Monday, we reported how two men behind Golden Apple Buffet intend to reopen as soon as they’re released from federal custody this week.

Now, the immigration attorney who represents some of the detained workers says all of his clients are in the United States legally.

“These people did nothing wrong,” attorney Jim Hacking said. “They followed the rules. They shouldn’t have been taken into custody.”

Hacking represents seven of the workers detained in the raids we first told you about on Sept. 3.

“…dragged them out of the shower, dragged them out of bed,” Hacking said, “and checked their papers either on site or certainly down at the Robert A. Young building, verified they had status to be here, but for whatever reason, decided to go ahead and put them on a no-bond hold.”

He says the restaurant workers will remain detained until they see a federal judge next week.

Reporters cannot be present in the courtroom because the hearings are not open to the public.

FOX 2 contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to answer why Hacking’s clients are still locked up if they are, in fact, legally here. A spokesperson answered that ICE is following federal law and could not comment on an ongoing investigation.

“During the execution of a search warrant, ICE may temporarily detain individuals to ensure safety and maintain control of the operation,” the spokesperson said.

Hacking commented: “So what should have been a housing violation for having too many people in a house instead turns into deportations.”

Attorneys for the restaurant operators, who are charged with harboring illegals, warned a judge that rapid deportation of their employees could cripple their defense or lead to the case being tossed out.

Meanwhile, potential customers continue to show up at the restaurant.

“I heard you talk about it that it was closed down before, and I was in the area and I thought, well I’m going to give it a shot and see if it’s open,” Dan Kaufmann said.

FOX 2 will learn more about the owner’s plan to reopen after his federal hearing Thursday.