We are writing to demand the immediate release of Iemad Saifo, a 65 year old father of four and respected restaurant owner, from Delaney Hall. Iemad should be caring for his family and running his business, not locked behind bars at risk for medical complications.

Iemad has called the United States home for nearly 25 years. This is the country where he raised his family, started his business, enriched his community, and built a life. He entered the United States lawfully, and has followed all the proper legal procedures to remain here. There is no reason Iemad should be in detention.

He is the owner of Zena's Restaurant, a beloved, family-run institution in New Jersey, where he's known for his generosity and kind heart. Iemad is also the loving father of four children and the caregiver to his autistic son, who relies on him for support with his daily needs.

Iemad is an elderly man with pre-existing health conditions that put him at serious risk while in detention — conditions that have never stopped him from working tirelessly for his family and community.

Iemad's detention is a devastating example of what the targeting of immigrants means for our communities: a family torn apart, a son left without his caregiver, and a community stripped of one of its own valued business owners.

We ask that you grant Iemad immediate release from ICE detention so he can continue to care for his son, provide for his family, and avoid the medical risks of detention.