A dear friend of mine, who has lived in this country for twenty years, has been detained by ICE for three weeks (and counting). Below is a letter that I sent to several elected officials to impress upon them just how important it is that he be released and allowed to stay in America. His family has been raising funds for legal expenses, as his case and path to citizenship is quite a complicated one. He and his family truly are some of the most wonderful people I know, and I join thousands of members of our community in hoping he is able to return to them soon.
I hope this email finds you well. I’m writing you in regards to Karim Daoud, an immigrant who has been detained at the Elizabeth Detention Center since March 12, 2025.
Karim entered the US legally twenty years ago and has been an upstanding member of his community ever since. Although he overstayed his original visa, he has always been upfront and cooperative with the relevant government agencies and has diligently and patiently been walking the path to citizenship. He’s worked hard, paid taxes, and helped his neighbors in any way he can. In the two decades he’s been here, he’s started a family- marrying a US citizen and raising two wonderful children. These past few weeks have been extremely hard for them. His wife was diagnosed with Breast Cancer last year and has been caring for their two children alone while also working to support them while Karim has been detained. Their ten-year-old son has also suffered from Ulcerative Colitis for many years now. He and his sister have worried every day of the last three weeks over when they would be able to see their father again. I’m privileged to say I know these people well and they are some of the kindest, hardest-working, and most deserving people I’ve ever met.
I met Karim for the first time about fifteen years ago when he served my family at a restaurant. We immediately liked him, and every time my family came back we requested to be seated in his section. A few weeks later, I met him again, working at a retail store a few doors down. We just kept running into him- and it wasn’t because he had a new job every week, but because he worked constantly to make a better life for himself, and eventually for his family. When he eventually started working at the Blue Fish Grill in Flemington, we went regularly just to see him, and as our friendship developed over the years we began to see him outside of work. He and his family have been gracious enough to host us at their home a number of times, and we’ve been lucky enough to have had them visit ours.
I’m mentioning this not because it’s a unique story, or even a particularly moving one. I’m mentioning it because hundreds of locals would tell you nearly the exact same thing. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Karim is easily the most loved person in our community, and he’s been sorely missed by many in these weeks without him. Although he wasn’t born here, Karim exemplifies the ideal of what an American citizen should be- hard-working, generous, and above all, kind. If there is any way you can help Karim come home to his family, our community would be extremely grateful. America is a better place with him in it.
Sincerely,
Adam Zeloof
