Street-food vendor Murat Celebi-Ariner (the Amuse Bouche guy) and his wife Pelin Celebi-Ariner had planned to send off the necessary papers for his green card this week, but his detention by Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) agents Thursday put those plans on hold. Murat remains in custody for overstaying his visa, ICE spokeswoman Lori Haley told Grub Street last night. Since Thursday, he’s been shuttled between San Francisco and Yuba County jail, Pelin Celebi-Ariner told Grub Street. “They’ll probably keep him over the weekend because the deportation officer in charge of his case won’t be back till Monday,” Pelin said.
Pelin and the couple’s lawyer are filing a deferred action request to keep Murat in the country until the papers for his green card can go through. Meanwhile, supporters at a street food event last night turned out with “Free Murat” t-shirts, which blared “STREET FOOD IS NOT TERRORISM” across the back. Unfortunately, Pelin says there’s not a lot the public can do if ICE decides to deport Murat. “Our lawyer doesn’t think the public has any recourse.” But she likes the t-shirts anyway.
Earlier: Amuse Bouche Guy to be Deported? [Grub Street SF]
