NJ Restaurant Owner's Immigration Case Delayed Four Years Amid Judge Shortage

A New Jersey restaurant owner, Celal Emanet, recently appeared before an immigration judge in Newark. The hearing, which lasted only 10 minutes, resulted in a four-year delay of his case. This delay, according to immigration groups, is a direct result of a shortage of immigration judges. Emanet's wife, Emine, was previously detained by ICE for weeks. "Us being in limbo for the last 20 years because of this case, and it just got pushed back another four years," said Emanet's son. The family's case has garnered significant community support, with neighbors rallying around them. The prolonged wait underscores the frustrations and anxieties experienced by many immigrants navigating the US immigration system.