Latest news with #JerseyKebab
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jersey Kebab reopens with community celebration months after ICE raid
The Brief Jersey Kebab has reopened since shutting down for more than a month. The family-owned restaurant shut down after its owners were detained due to an ICE raid back in February. The community showed up in numbers to support the restaurant's re-opening. HADDON TWP., NJ - A New Jersey family-owned restaurant opened its doors Sunday for the first time since its owners were detained by immigration officials back in February. A steady stream of customers, neighbors, and friends came to show the Emanet family they're loved and to make sure they know they will be here with them on their continued journey. What we know Jersey Kebab celebrated the end of Ramadan and the outpouring of support from the community with free food for anyone who turned out. What they're saying "We just have so much love built up in our hearts, and our hearts are so full!" said Celal Emanet, owner of Jersey Kabab. The line started forming even before the doors opened. "I've eaten here a couple times, and the food is really good, and the stuff that happened was pretty terrible, so I just wanted to come to show my support," said Kenny Wagner from Collingswood. "I think it's great just to support a local family and be there for them, and I think that's just what the town is about and everything," said Gayle Wexler from Mount Laurel, N.J. So many have come out for the Emanet family during their time of need, and now the family wants to show their gratitude. "I feel very happy, you know, and I cannot imagine people coming because I see their faces and they are very happy to come back!" Celal Emanet said. On February 25, ICE agents arrested Celal and his wife Emine because of their immigration status, and the community rallied behind them. "And they, you know, share our problems, and we thank everybody for doing this because they think they are family," Celal Emanet added. "This is a small thank you, you know? I want too much, too much thank you. This is a small business, but our heart is too big, you know?" Emine Emanet said with a laugh. The food is free, but people still want to donate for the family's legal fees as their case winds its way through the legal system. "You see it, the love just comes back. It's not something that we're not used to, so…like this…you really are like my family!" said Muhammed Emanet. "I'm so happy, it's amazing!" Emine Emanet exclaimed. "It says everybody loves them, and it should have. It's just absolutely terrible, it's very sad, and I mean not just because I know them but because they are the nicest people. They really are, they truly are, they would do anything for anybody," said Lynda Warner from Collingswood, N.J. What's next While Sunday was all about the Emanet family saying thank you, the official reopening of the business is at 11 a.m. Tuesday. They still have a long way to go as their case continues.
CBS News
30-03-2025
- CBS News
South Jersey restaurant reopens after owners' arrest by ICE sparks community outpouring
A South Jersey family restaurant marked its return Sunday with a free Eid al-Fitr feast for the community, just over a month after its owners were arrested by ICE agents . Jersey Kebab , a beloved Turkish restaurant on Haddon Avenue in Haddon Township, will officially reopen for regular business hours on Tuesday. But on Sunday, hundreds of customers lined up for a complimentary spread of kebabs, rice and other traditional dishes to celebrate the Islamic holiday of Eid. Owners Emine and Celal Emanet were able to serve customers for the first time in weeks. The couple was arrested by ICE agents at their restaurant on Feb. 25. The couple emigrated from Turkey in 2008 on a religious visa, and their green card applications are still pending. Emine Emanet spent two weeks detained at a facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey, before her release on bond in mid-March . Her husband, Celal, who was released earlier with an ankle monitor, said the couple believes the community's support played a big role in her release. "On her bond court, it helped a lot," Celal Emanet said. "The judge makes the decision. … They saw the letters. He saw around 300 letters. We had a lot more than that." Jersey Kebab's building is now decorated with notes of support from the community, left by customers who were shocked by what happened to the Emanets. "We are real people, you know. We didn't harm anybody. We are not criminals," Celal Emanet said. Local residents who attended Sunday's feast said they wanted to support the family through a difficult ordeal. "What went down, it's unfair," said Cameron Siler, of Mount Laurel. "And they're not the only people that are going through it. So, you know, I just want to see some change." Jersey Kebab plans to resume normal operations on Tuesday.
CBS News
13-03-2025
- CBS News
New Jersey community welcomes home restaurant owner Emine Emanet after her release from detention center
Less than 24 hours after being released from a detention center, the owner of a popular restaurant in Camden County returned to the spot where she was arrested by ICE agents to thank her neighbors for their support. On Thursday afternoon, drivers started honking and customers were cheering as the community welcomed home Emine Emanet. "I know the whole community is so excited to see that she's been released. I mean, they're such a great family," said Anita Campana, who works across the street from the restaurant. Emine Emanet stood on the sidewalk outside her restaurant, Jersey Kebab, and read the many messages of love and encouragement written on brightly colored hearts that have been taped to the windows. She said it was this support from the community that kept her going the past two weeks while inside an immigrant detention center in North Jersey. "She's very happy, you know. This township, also Cherry Hill, Collingswood, this area, all supported and they are calling her from morning until now," said Celal Emanet, Emine's husband. A bouquet of flowers sat by the door at Jersey Kebab, waiting for her. Emine Emanet hugged her neighbors and then walked back inside her business for the first time. "They're great people, and I order from there all the time. If I'm too busy, they know me, and they'll run my food down for me," said Tara Martinak, who works a few doors down. The mother and grandmother was released on bond Wednesday night and reunited with her family outside the detention facility. On Feb. 25, Emine Emanet and her husband were arrested by ICE agents during a raid at their family-owned restaurant in Haddon Township. Emine Emanet was detained and her husband was released after being fitted with an electronic ankle monitor. The couple came to the U.S from Turkey in 2008 on a religious visa, and their application for a green card has been pending since 2016. "We're just hoping for the very best of things for them. Hopefully, they can stay here and reopen their restaurant," Campana said. While the family's future may be uncertain, their focus right now is on spending time together. Then, they plan on reopening the restaurant on March 30. "The first day, we are going to have free food for everybody, probably on Sunday. That day we are going to celebrate Ramadan and make a party with everybody," Celal Emanet said. Celal Emanet said he has a deportation hearing scheduled for May 27. The couple's attorney told CBS News Philadelphia he's working to consolidate their cases so they can be heard together.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
South Jersey family reunites with mother after ICE raids Jersey Kebab restaurant
The Brief Emine Emanet, 47, has been released from a detention center after ICE officers raided her family-owned business on February 25, 2025. Both Emine and her husband, Celal Emanet, were detained by ICE, but Emine was released on bond weeks after Celal was released. The Emanet family reunited at the detention center in Elizabeth, NJ Wednesday for Emine's release. HADDON TWP., NJ - "Reunited and it feels so good." A South Jersey mother is back with her family after being detained by ICE for more than two weeks. The Haddon Township family says their nightmare is over, for now. What we know It was a joyful reunion for the Emanet family, warmly embracing Emine, who has been in custody at the Elizabeth Detention Center these last two weeks. "I'm so happy now," said Emine Emanet, released from Elizabeth Detention Center. "My heart is very full, happy to say," said Celal Emanet of Jersey Kebab. Her husband Celal and son Muhammed have been fighting for Emine's release since ICE raided their business, Jersey Kebab, in Haddon Township on February 25. Celal was released that day with a GPS ankle monitor, but authorities chose to detain Emine, holding her at the Elizabeth Detention Center in North Jersey. "You know it was tough days. You know we're in trial. Sometimes we are in tough days, sometimes we have good days, so today is a very good day for me," Celal said. The family moved from Turkey to the U.S. in 2008 on a religious worker's visa. Before that expired, Celal applied for a green card, but it was denied three times, and the family has been going through the appeals process since 2016, waiting for a decision. The nonprofit Envision Freedom Fund in Brooklyn paid for Emine's $7,500 bond, and now the couple both have upcoming court hearings to decide their fate in the U.S. "Even though my mom was only in there for two weeks, she said there are others in there who have been in there for months and they have not seen the sun at all, they have not seen the sky at all for this entire time," said Muhammed Emanet, their son. During the interview, Emine spoke in Turkish, expressing her appreciation to the community for standing up for her and her family. "It made her very emotional. It made her—they're truly like our family now. Hugs and kisses to all our community and our neighbors," Muhammed translated. Emine says she'd like to get right back to work at their family-owned business. But first, she will spend quality time with her family. The Source The information in this story is from the Emanet family.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jersey Kebab ICE raid: Judge grants mother to be released on bond
The Brief Celal and Emine Emanet, owners of Jersey Kebab in Haddon Township, were arrested on February 25 during an ICE raid. Celal was later released with an ankle monitor, and Emine was sent to a detention center in Elizabeth. On Tuesday, March 11, an immigration judge granted the release of Emine on bond. HADDON TWP., NJ - Emine Emanet, 47, has been in ICE detention since she and her husband were arrested on February 25, 2025. A judge has granted the South Jersey mother to be released on bond. The backstory Celal and Emine Emanet, owners of Jersey Kebab in Haddon Township, were arrested on February 25, 2025 during an ICE raid. The husband and wife were told they were being detained to update their case file, which the family says has been in limbo since 2016. The couple purportedly applied for a green card nearly 10 years ago and have been awaiting a final decision ever since. Celal was later released with an ankle monitor, and Emine was sent to a detention center in Elizabeth. A GoFundMe campaign for the Emanet family has raised over $320k as of this writing. What we know Two weeks after the couple's arrests, an immigration judge granted a $7,500 bond to release Emine Emanet. Though the family filled out the Department of Homeland Security paperwork Tuesday after the immigration hearing, it was too late to pay the bail. Therefore, Emine will be released Wednesday morning. The Emanet family has received an overwhelming outpouring of support from the South Jersey community after the ICE raid. What they're saying The couple's oldest son, Muhammed, spoke with FOX 29's Jennifer Lee Tuesday. "At the end of the day hopefully what started as a nightmare will end as a fairytale for us and finally we'll have what we've truly been looking for and have the same human rights next to our American citizens as well," said Muhammed. Congressman Norcross sent the following statement: "I'm glad to see that Emine was able to reunite with her family. The Emanet family's story is a clear example of why we need real immigration reform that will make a legal pathway to citizenship. While their legal battle is far from over, my office will continue to work with the family throughout the process." Later Tuesday night, Muhammed spoke with FOX 29 and expressed his happiness over his mom's pending release. "She was very happy. I spent one hour with her because it was visitors time after court. Between 5 and 6pm. She was very happy. She was very excited. But I wish we had completed all the paperwork today, but we didn't have time unfortunately, but she's very happy." What's next Though Emine will be released on bail, the family still faces court hearings for both Emine and to determine if they will get deported. The Source The information in this story is from the Emanet family.
