HADDON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — County leaders have added their voices to the community support for the Emanet family, torn apart this week by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Joining neighbors and patrons on Thursday outside the family’s kebab shop, they condemned what they call a broken immigration system.
On Tuesday, ICE agents arrested and detained grandparents and Turkish immigrants Celal and Emine, who own Jersey Kebab, a popular restaurant on Haddon Avenue. They have been left hanging by a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services case that’s been open since 2016.
On Thursday afternoon, standing outside the business, leaders like Haddon Township Mayor Randy Teague condemned the enforcement process that led to the couple’s arrests.
“We consider this situation different than some of the other ones that we hear on TV, where there’s criminals and rapists coming into our country,” Teague said.
He says ICE overstepped in this case. “They came in here legally, and they’re trying to stay here legally.”
Camden County Commissioner Virginia Betteridge — an immigrant herself, from Cuba — says the immigration system is broken.
“The pathway has to be fixed. There’s no reason for people to be incarcerated when they’re waiting to get their documents in order,” she said.
Celal is out, with an ankle monitor, so he can take care of their teenage son, who has autism—leaving his wife Emine alone, more than an hour away, at Elizabeth Detention Center.
“We were able to speak with her just for a short couple minutes,” said eldest son and restaurant manager Muhammed. “She was just devastated, crying, bawling. She’s never been in a situation like this. She’s never committed a crime in her life.”
Emine will begin the Ramadan fast Friday evening, but doesn’t have a bond hearing until March 13, meaning she may have to fast in detention for two weeks before she has a chance to be released.
“This family is a family that embodies the very best of Camden County, and now they’re torn apart by this broken immigration system,” said Camden County Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr.
He directed attention to a sign in the window of Jersey Kebab—not the one that reads CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE but the one that reads FREE TO ANYONE WITH A DISABILITY OR HOMELESS OR SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD IT.
“These are folks who give you a meal if you’re homeless. If you’re hungry and you have no money, you come to this restaurant and you’re taken care of,” Cappelli said.
Muhammed says that policy was set forth by his parents, guided by their faith.
“We’re taught, as Muslims, to share half of everything we have,” he said.
The community has returned that support, rallying to donate more than $250,000 to help the Emanet family.
“We just appreciate everybody, with all the support they’ve been giving us,” Muhammed said. “The really only thing we wish we could have is our mother by our side.”