HADDON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — A wife, mother and co-owner of a beloved Haddon Township restaurant will soon rejoin her family after an immigration judge on Tuesday ruled that she can be released on bond.
Emine Emanet has been behind bars for about two weeks after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents (ICE) arrested her and her husband, Celal, at their Haddon Township restaurant, Jersey Kebab. On Tuesday afternoon, an immigration judge in Elizabeth ruled she can be released from custody on a $7,500 bond.
Celal has been out during that time, wearing an ankle monitor while taking care of their teenage son with autism — but that left Emine alone, nearly 80 miles away, taking part in her Ramadan fast by herself.
Their eldest son, Muhammad, said the Emanets came to the United States legally from Turkey in 2008 on a religious visa. They have had an open, pending immigration case since 2016.
“Our family has faced this immigration status for years, and we’ve been trying to do the right thing to try to get legalized the right way and following the right procedures,” he said.
The community has rallied behind the Emanets, who have been known for giving free meals to those in need. They received vocal support from Camden County officials, and nearly 8,000 people have donated more than $325,000 to a GoFundMe in the wake of last month’s arrests.
People also posted heartfelt messages of support on the windows of Jersey Kebab.
“It’s been very hard to try and keep the family alive and standing, but we’ve been standing tall, and our community has truly become our family in these last couple weeks as well,” said Muhammad Emanet.
The ruling came too late to post the $7,500 bond on Tuesday, so the Emanets are expected to post it when the bond office reopens Wednesday morning.