HADDON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Torn apart by ICE agents in late February and reunited this week, the Emanets of Haddon Township now await a deportation hearing.
“If we were to look at who would make a good citizen of the United States, what we’re seeing here is exactly that,” said New Jersey Congressman Donald Norcross of the Emanets Friday outside Jersey Kebab on Haddon Avenue. The restaurant is run by Emine Emanet, her husband Celal and eldest son Muhammad.
Emine was detained by ICE agents on Feb. 25 alongside Celal at the family restaurant. Celal was released later that day with an ankle monitor, but Emine remained in detention until Wednesday.
Muhammad said the community stood by their side during this difficult time, raising nearly $327,000 to keep the family afloat and pay for legal expenses. They also flooded local officials with letters.
“Because of those support letters and because of the funds that were raised, that’s what we were able to put in front of a judge to provide that evidence for them to let my mom out,” Muhammad said.
The couple arrived in the U.S. legally from Turkey in 2008, but lost status when their visas expired. Norcross said they tried many times to renew, but their case kept getting delayed, keeping them in limbo.
“They had to wait to get a hearing that kept getting postponed time and time again. All we’re asking for is a legal pathway to citizenship,” Norcross said.
Now, the family lawyer is working to combine Emine and Celal’s cases before they head to a deportation hearing. If that goes well, both will go to a hearing for permanent residency.
“Now that my mom is finally back, our anchor is set firm on the ground, our feet are standing tall on the ground, so we just feel so much more relieved and you know, we’re able to take on anything as long as we are together,” Muhammad said.