Alyse Robayo never met Emine Emanet, but on Sunday afternoon she sat at a folding table in a shop from the town of Haddon, writing a cordial letter on her behalf, turning to the federal authorities that hope for Deport Emanet and her husband Cellal.
“It’s a great injustice,” said Robayo of Voorhees. “They are only good people and they should not have been a target.”
Robayo was one of dozens of people who collected a block from the Emanets restaurant, Jersey Kebab to write missiles to the authorities that were notarial on the spot by volunteers.
On Tuesday, the emanades were arrested by immigration and customs agents in their Haddon Township restaurant. When their son Muhammed came to Jersey Kebab, he saw a federal marshal stationed in front of a restaurant, who, who described as a machine gun, “looking like war.” The family never had problems with the law.
Emanets entered the country legally in 2008, but lost his status when their visas expired. They say that they have never stopped looking for a legal, constant stay, but they were refused three times. Their latest application has been underway for nine years.
EMINE EMANET is still held at the Elżbieta custody center, NJ; Celal Emanet was released with ankle monitor.
ICE officials, in a statement issued on Friday, noticed that the agency is authorized “to examine and enforce immigration regulations, especially in cases where immigration violations intersect with national security, public security and transnational crime. Emanets received a notification of the appearance of an immigration place before the judge[d] In removing. “
President Donald Trump promised the repression of immigrants when he was elected; Other raids took place locally from January. But the arrest of Emanets enlivened the community – and people in the United States and outside – significantly.
At the end of Sunday, $ 310,000 was financed from social resources to support the family in legal defense and cover lost income; Jersey Kebab is closed while the couples are fighting deportation.
“These are our beloved owners of small companies who make our community,” said Becky Reiser, co-founder of Haddon Township Equity Initiative, a citizenship group that sponsored a letter writing session.
Emanets and their restaurant are a constant element in the area.
“They allow people who can’t afford to eat free of charge because it is,” said Isis Williams, another co -founder of Haddon Township Equity Initiative, who helped organize the event. “We stand in a gap for them. This is our way to do something. “
Gretchen Siebert from the Cooper River Indivisible group, knows Emanets personally; She taught one of the children Emanet at Cherry Hill public school and deeply respected the family.
“They are a symbol of Turkish culture and Turkish hospitality,” said Siebert. (At the rally held before Jersey Kebab on Saturday, on Saturday, the family offered free food to everyone who participated, despite the fact that they could not eat themselves, because fasting for Ramadan).
As Siebert wrote on a torn piece of notebooks, she said that she behaves not only for Emanets, but for other immigrants in similar situations. But the emanins are particularly unusual, she said.
Although her family and friends are deeply worried about Emina Emanet, Muhammed Emanet told Siebert and others that his mother found a goal behind the bars: her roommate is a Ukrainian woman who fought in a common cell. EMINE EMANET bathed her; Another prisoner designed a woman’s hair.
“I feel that she was placed there to take care of this woman,” said Siebert about Emine Emanet.
Kristen Jandola’s family orders Jersey Kebab on an ongoing basis. Jandoli said that food is tasty – Baklava is her favorite – and the family always encourages customers to try something, free of charge.
Although Haddon Township tilts a democratic, not everyone feels the same politically, said jandolas. But he thinks that Emanets’ fight is an inflammatory point.
“It opened his eyes, putting a human face to the harmful policy of Trump’s administration,” said Jandola.
Gabe Robayo is in a spring break with Temple University, where he is younger. The 20-year-senior joined his mother while writing letters because, he said, it seemed that something that could support people who deserve it, but also a larger moment.
“It’s not about counteracting criminals or ending the border crisis, this is fear,” said Gabe Robayo. “Now, more than ever, it is important to resist good people.”
Staff writer Jeff Gammage contributed to this article.
