Restaurant Operator Detained By ICE Fights For Immigration Reform In NJ

TRENTON, NJ — Every day the Emanets returns to Jersey Kebab, they fear that immigration authorities will raid their restaurant again, according to the family's eldest son.

Muhammed Emanet and his parents legally immigrated to the United States 18 years ago, he says. But their immigration status hangs in the balance, especially after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided the South Jersey restaurant nearly a year ago.

Emanet went to the State House on Monday and testified in favor of a series of bills designed to protect immigrants. He was one of hundreds at a packed Assembly Judiciary Committee hearing, which included a committee vote on the legislative package.

The committee advanced to each bill, voting along party lines with Democrats in favor. Each bill must pass the full Assembly and State Senate to advance to the governor's desk.

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Muhammed operates Jersey Kebab in Collingswood with his parents, Celal and Emine Emanet. In February, ICE raided their Mediterranean restaurant, which was then located in Haddon Township, and arrested Celal and Emine.

Celal, the family patriarch, was released that day with an ankle monitor. His wife, Emine, was detained for 15 days, until a judge set bond for her release.

All three have pending deportation hearings, as ICE detained Muhammed Emanet five years ago, when he turned 21 and aged out of his parents' green card case, he says. He was released because he had already paid for his semester at college at the time.

Last year, ICE raided Jersey Kebab the minute they opened, with heavily armored men and U.S. Marshals arresting Celal and Emine Emanet while customers were present, Muhammed Emanet says.

"We're still showing up to our restaurant thinking what if it happens again," Muhammed Emanet said. "I have siblings at home who are United States citizens who are dealing with autism, and they have watched our parents go through this."

Muhammed and his parents, who all hail from Turkey, immigrated to the United States 18 years ago on a religious visa, he says. Celal is an imam.

Celal and Emine applied for green cards in 2016, when their visa was still in effect. But their case has remained open for 10 years, leaving them — and their eldest son — in limbo.

Members of his family's mosque looked on in horror when Celal Emanet returned to the house of worship with an ankle monitor.

"In our mosque, he would give lectures to about 1,000 people every week, wearing an ankle bracelet," Muhammed Emanet said. "And everybody in our community was terrorized by this event."

Throughout this time, their green card cases have been pending because of the unsettled deportation cases, he says. Celal's deportation hearing is set for March, while Emine's is set for March, Muhammed said recently.

A green card was approved for Muhammed Emanet last year, but he hasn't been able to access it — or the rights and benefits that come with permanent residency — because of his deportation case.

Because of their immigration status, the family members cannot get Social Security Numbers. The family-owned restaurant is their only path to income.

"My father, who is a PhD holder, a doctorate degree holder in history, who has written out more than 10 books and articles in Turkey," Muhammed Emanet said, "is still behind a grill flipping burgers, cooking 12, 13 hours a day because our green card has not been granted because we have all been placed in deportation orders now."

The immigration bills represent matters that deeply impact the Emanets, Muhammed says.

One bill would restrict local law enforcement from disclosing the immigration status of residents to ICE agents within their jurisdiction. While the Immigrant Trust Directive policy already regulates this, the bill would codify the restriction into law.

Another measure would would designate areas including schools, hospitals, shelters, courthouses, and places of worship as locations in which federal civil law enforcement initiatives could not be carried out. The bill only applies to federal civil law enforcement actions, not to criminal investigations.

Immigration advocates are pushing for the bills to pass before the two-year legislative session ends next week. If it doesn't pass by then, it will need to be re-introduced in the next legislative session.

"I consider myself an American," Muhammed Emanet said. "We named our restaurant Jersey Kebab because we’re Jersey boys. We love Jersey, and we love America, and we love being in this nation."