United States

Government Presses Effort to Deport Michigan Restaurant Owner

The federal government is fighting Ibrahim Parlak.

Again.

Parlak, the Michigan restauranteur who has been relentlessly pursued for years as a potential “terrorist” by U.S. immigration authorities, has the backing of virtually his entire community in the vacation neighborhoods on the Michigan shore. Indeed, on a drive down the Red Arrow Highway through New Buffalo or Union Pier, it has been a familiar sight to see “Free Ibrahim” signs in store windows and front yards.

Last month, Parlak won a major victory, as an immigration judge ruled he would almost certainly be tortured if Homeland Security got its wish and deported him to his native Turkey. 

“Being able to see a day like this, it’s a great feeling,” Parlak told NBC5 Thursday. “In many different ways, she cleared my name.” 

But that relief was short lived. Federal authorities have announced their intention to appeal the court’s ruling, saying they believe the court did not give adequate weight to the evidence.

Parlak’s attorney Robert Carpenter expressed disappointment with the government’s decision not to drop the case. 

“We are confident the board will agree with the immigration judge’s analysis,” Carpenter told NBC5. “In the end, we believe the appeal will only prove to waste valuable tax dollars and resources that should be used elsewhere.” 

Parlak, who runs the popular Cafe Gulistan in Harbert, near New Buffalo, came to the United States in 1992. Initially he was welcomed with open arms, even granted asylum. But in 2004, he was accused of lying on immigration documents about alleged past associations in Turkey with the Kurdish separatist group PKK.

Parlak always denied the charges, but was arrested and served 10 months in custody before eventually being released in June of 2005.

Since that time, he has fought repeated deportation efforts, but has enjoyed enthusiastic support from Democratic and Republican lawmakers, as well as the wider community and Chicagoland visitors on the Michigan shore. 

“A big thank you and hug to all of those people,” Parlak said. “All of the good of America circled me and carried me through the most difficult times.” 

Last month, Republican congressman Fred Upton, a longtime Parlak supporter, hailed the court’s decision. 

“Justice has prevailed,” Upton said in a statement. “We’ve always supported Ibrahim because we know who he truly is: A fantastic father, local business owner, and friend to many families here in Southwest Michigan.” 

While the court decision did not mean permanent relief for Parlak, it did mean that the threat of imminent removal was lifted. While Turkey was demanding his return, he holds no travel documents for any other country. 

After receiving the court’s decision, Parlak told NBC5 his greatest hope remained full citizenship in his adopted America. And he spoke lovingly of the wider community which despite varying political views, has consistently rallied together to keep Parlak in the United States. 

“We hold onto the American values,” he said. “Even at the most difficult times, that kind of gave us hope to go forward!”

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