Jersey Kebab owner soon to be released on bond after GoFundMe intiated by neighbors raised over $300,000

The Jersey Kebab restaurant owner was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the owner is soon to be released on bond after her community rallied around her.

Emine Emanet, who owns Jersey Kebab in Haddon Township with her husband, is said to be released on a $7,500 bond by a federal judge. She had been detained at the Elizabeth Detention Center since her arrest on February 25, while her husband, Celal Emanet, was released earlier with an ankle monitor.

ICE agents arrested the couple at their restaurant on the morning of February 25. Their son, Muhammed Emanet, who runs Jersey Kebab, arrived at work to find federal agents detaining his parents.

According to Emanet, His father was a highly educated religious scholar and had never been in trouble with the law. He described his mother’s distress after being taken into custody as the most upset he had ever seen her.

In the aftermath of the arrests, neighbors and patrons of the restaurant swiftly put together a GoFundMe campaign to support the family, raising more than $300,000. The fundraiser was set up to help cover legal costs and to support Jersey Kebab financially during this period.

More than 3,000 people have donated to the cause. As of now, the total amount raised is equal to $326,500 with the goal being $360K.

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More about the history behind Jersey Kebab and the community support

The Turkish couple migrated to the United States legally in 2008 on student visas. But they were in the country illegally after their visas expired as they waited for a decision on their application for legal permanent residency. According to reports online, their case has been pending since 2016 without resolution.

Jersey Kebab opened in 2020 and has been a famous restaurant in the neighborhood known for not just its Mediterranean cooking, but also for its generosity. The restaurant has been offering free meals to those in need, with a sign on its door saying:

“Free to anyone with a disability, homeless, or simply cannot afford it."

The family’s struggles are especially hard on their younger son, Hamza, who is autistic and depends on his parents and his home environment. Muhammed said that his brother would have to go through a lot if their mother were deported.

Following several weeks in detention, Emine Emanet’s bond hearing will supposedly free her tomorrow, and she may finally get to go home to her family. Their lawyer, Joseph Best, said that she was not a risk and that detaining her was not in the public interest.